how does birth control affect your brain?
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Birth control pills may slightly alter the structure of women's brains, according to a new study. The study found that women taking the pill, or oral contraceptives, had a smaller hypothalamus than women not taking the pill.
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As with any other medication, the birth control pill can cause side effects. Some women may find that their hair thins or falls out while they're taking the pill. Other women may lose their hair after they stop taking it.
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Although the pill is highly effective at preventing unintended pregnancy, it offers numerous other health benefits, too. Taking birth control pills can help to regulate hormonal swings and imbalances that can cause an array of different symptoms that interfere with day-to-day functioning.
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Some women also experience mood changes and depression when taking contraceptives. Since the body works to maintain a hormone balance, it's possible that the introduction of hormones creates a disruption, causing changes in mood.
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Men have evolved brains that find women's faces, voices, and body scents most attractive at this time. The pill lowers estrogen levels though, so it may make you lose a little bit of your sexiness edge and decrease the likelihood of being approached by males for sex.
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A recent study found that the pill “numbs a woman's emotions” and “harms relationships.” It revealed that while women on the pill can tell if someone else is happy or scared, they're 10 percent less likely to pick up on pride or contempt.
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Hormonal birth control can cause some side effects, such as decreased libido, spotting, and nausea. Also, there are mental health side effects that can occur, including mood swings, depression, and increased feelings of nervousness or anxiety.
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The Birth Control Pill Oral contraceptives contain hormones that stop ovulation. If you use them perfectly, they're a great way to prevent pregnancy, with a 99.7% effectiveness rate.
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However, a 2017 systematic review concluded that hormonal contraceptives are unlikely to affect most women's weight. Missed periods: Taking the birth control pill may cause a very light flow or missed periods. Changes in vision: Over time, the birth control pill may cause the cornea to thicken and may affect eyesight.
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Hormonal birth control tricks your body into thinking it's pregnant, she points out, so it's not surprising that it can potentially negatively impact your mood. Indeed, some hormonal birth control options, including pills and the ring, list mood changes and even depression as a possible side effect.
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When a person takes inactive pills, their estrogen levels suddenly drop. This can trigger headaches, including migraines. People who experience a sudden increase in headaches when they begin to take a birth control pill are likely reacting to this hormonal swing.
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Without the help of birth control, your natural hormone spikes may cause increased acne, PMS, bloating, moodiness, weight fluctuation, and more. If you had any unwanted symptoms while on birth control, such as headaches, nausea, or weight gain, these symptoms will likely go away when you stop taking birth control.
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The birth control pill works by stopping sperm from joining with an egg (which is called fertilization). The hormones in the pill stop ovulation. No ovulation means there's no egg hanging around for sperm to fertilize, so pregnancy can't happen.
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The hormones in combination birth control pills will help to regulate the menstrual cycle and hormones, which will prevent many of the symptoms of menopause. It is possible, however, that the pill will cause side effects that are very similar to the symptoms of hormone fluctuation. These can include: mood swings.
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But if you notice yourself feeling sad, angry or annoyed after you start taking the pill without any obvious reason, it could be the result of your hormones. According to studies, mood changes affect four to 10 percent of women who take hormonal birth control pills.
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['Unintended Pregnancy. While birth control pills are highly reliable in preventing pregnancy, there is the possibility that you could become pregnant. ... ', 'Blood Clots. ... ', 'Cholesterol Levels. ... ', 'Migraine Headaches. ... ', 'High Blood Pressure. ... ', 'Cardiovascular Disease. ... ', 'Cancer. ... ', 'Cancer.']
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In fact, a 2006 study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that women who have taken the birth control pill may have a low sex drive not only while taking the pill, but even after stopping. This effect could be due to the pill's impact on testosterone levels and its potential to permanently suppress sex drive.