Birth control pills may shrink the region that controls sex drive in women
In addition to preventing pregnancy, these birth control pills are also
prescribed by medical professionals to treat irregular menstruation,
cystic acne, PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) and painful periods.
The side-effects of contraceptive pills
However, since contraceptive pills work by introducing hormones in the body, it may cause disruption in the balance of hormones present in the body. This could result in irregular menstrual cycle and delayed periods. Some women may also experience nausea and vomiting when they start taking the pill. It may also cause tenderness in the breast, weight gain and mood swings.
Drastic impact on the brain
Sadly, this is not all. A recent study, presented at the 105th annual meeting of Radiological Society of North America 2019 found a shocking difference in the brain scans of women who took the pill and those who didn’t. To conduct the study, scientists examined the brains of 50 women, 21 of which were on the pill.
The doctors found that women who were taking the contraceptive pills had a dramatic difference in the hypothalamus volume when compared to those who did not take the pill. For the uninitiated, the hypothalamus is a key region of the brain which is responsible for taking care of sex drive, sleep cycle, mood swings and appetite.
Lead author of the study and professor of radiology at the Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Dr Lipton said, "This initial study shows a strong association and should motivate further investigation into the effects of oral contraceptives on brain structure and their potential impact on brain function."
The bottom line
The scientists maintained that the results were still preliminary and required more research, in-depth studies need to be conducted to further understand the impact of oral contraceptives on the brain.
The side-effects of contraceptive pills
However, since contraceptive pills work by introducing hormones in the body, it may cause disruption in the balance of hormones present in the body. This could result in irregular menstrual cycle and delayed periods. Some women may also experience nausea and vomiting when they start taking the pill. It may also cause tenderness in the breast, weight gain and mood swings.
Drastic impact on the brain
Sadly, this is not all. A recent study, presented at the 105th annual meeting of Radiological Society of North America 2019 found a shocking difference in the brain scans of women who took the pill and those who didn’t. To conduct the study, scientists examined the brains of 50 women, 21 of which were on the pill.
The doctors found that women who were taking the contraceptive pills had a dramatic difference in the hypothalamus volume when compared to those who did not take the pill. For the uninitiated, the hypothalamus is a key region of the brain which is responsible for taking care of sex drive, sleep cycle, mood swings and appetite.
Lead author of the study and professor of radiology at the Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Dr Lipton said, "This initial study shows a strong association and should motivate further investigation into the effects of oral contraceptives on brain structure and their potential impact on brain function."
The bottom line
The scientists maintained that the results were still preliminary and required more research, in-depth studies need to be conducted to further understand the impact of oral contraceptives on the brain.