Regular use of birth control pills could have an impact on a specific region of the brain that controls emotions, and more specifically the region that regulates fear, according to a study by a doctoral student at the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM).
Psychology doctoral student Alexandra Brouillard compared the brains of women who are currently taking some form of birth control pills, others who are not currently using them, women who have never taken the pill, and men.
This allowed him to understand whether there are morphological changes and identify possible differences between the sexes, while women in general suffer more often from disorders related to anxiety and stress.
The study shows that women who use combined oral contraceptives (COCs) had a thinner ventromedial prefrontal cortex than men. This brain region would be involved in regulating emotions and reducing fear signals in a non-threatening situation.
If women were aware of the mainly physical side effects of taking the pill, the influence of sex hormones on brain development would be less discussed.
“The aim of our work is not to counteract COC use, but it is important to be aware of the fact that the pill can have effects on the brain,” explained Ms. Brouillard.
“The effects appear to be reversible, but at this point further research in this area is required before we fully understand their impact on brain health,” she said.
However, other factors can also lead to women taking birth control pills. “We can only assume a connection between COC consumption and brain morphology,” it said.
With this research, the doctoral student’s team wants to draw attention to the sometimes early prescription of birth control pills, which could influence brain development.