This is how the pill affects your brain

This is how the pill affects your brain

Hormonal contraceptives like the pill seem to affect the brain, too - and not exactly in a positive way. In terms of contraception, the drug is considered incredibly safe. However, health consequences have been discussed controversially for years.

This is how the pill and other hormonal contraceptives harm your brain

It has long been known that hormonal contraceptives such as birth control pills or the hormone IUD can cause numerous side effects. These include, for example, migraines, weight gain, and high blood pressure, liver damage, and depression.

Researchers from University found that hormonal contraceptives can affect the body and cognitive performance, i.e., certain brain functions.

Pill - and cognitive performance drops

The study results are based on two studies in which 324 female students participated. About half of the subjects had previously used hormonal contraceptives for at least two months, while the rest had not used them for at least three months.

In the first study, the participants were given a simple task. They were shown two similar images and asked about ten subtle differences. In the second study, they had to solve more complex math problems and master a test (word and language games).

The scientists then found that those women who used hormonal contraception showed lower cognitive task performance.

Less drive and motivation from pills and co.

But why is it that hormonal contraceptives lower the level of performance? According to the researchers, women who used the pill or other hormonal contraceptives showed markedly decreased stamina in challenging and straightforward cognitive tasks.

Therefore, those women who used hormonal contraception achieved lower results than non-users, as they invested less time in the tasks assigned to them. So they lacked drive, motivation, and the ability to concentrate.

According to the researchers, the most critical finding is that hormonal contraceptives can have various consequences beyond mere pregnancy prevention. Additional research is therefore urgently required to better assess the effects in the future.

The pill changes your brain structure

When perseverance, drive, attention, or will leave something desired, the cause is often found in the brain. Therefore, scientists from the College of Medicine carried out a pilot study to determine whether the birth control pill can change the brain.

They analyzed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of 50 women - 21 were taking a combination pill containing synthetic estrogen and progestogens (also called progestins). All of those women who took the drug showed a changed brain structure: their hypothalamus (a section of the diencephalon) was on average 6 percent smaller.

 

This difference may seem small, and overall, the brains of the women concerned were not noticeably smaller. Nevertheless, the scientists classified the finding as dramatic. The hypothalamus is a significant controller midpoint in many ways, such as arousal, appetite, mood, and drive. So it may well be that the shrunken hypothalamus is responsible for the impaired mental performance.

There are alternatives to hormonal contraceptives

Since the first birth control pill hit the market in 1960, it has gained more and more followers. Today it is one of the most popular contraceptives. Around 53 percent of adult couples use it. The pill's success is based on the fact that it is one of the safest and most practical methods of contraception.

But women pay a high price for this. Because when it comes to safety in terms of health, hormonal contraceptives do not do well because they can cause considerable damage to the body and the psyche and mental performance.

So it is essential to consider whether it is better to use alternatives such as the condom or NFP (natural family planning). Information on the latter can be found here: Natural contraception

 

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