New research finds hormonal birth control changes social and emotional behaviors as well as sexual function in women.
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Link to Studies Mentioned:
Alvergne, A. & Lummaa, V. Does the contraceptive pill alter mate choice in humans? Trends Ecol Evol 25, 171–179 (2010).
Moldenhauer, L. M. et al. Regulatory T Cell Proportion and Phenotype Are Altered in Women Using Oral Contraception. Endocrinology 163, bqac098 (2022).
Øjvind, L., Ellen, L., Aksel, J., Wessel, S. C. & Niels, K. Thrombotic Stroke and Myocardial Infarction with Hormonal Contraception. New Engl J Med 366, 2257–2266 (2012).
Show Notes:
00:00 Hormonal birth control may be weakening society.
03:15 Women cycling without birth control were attracted to more masculine men.
05:35 Most birth control pills are synthetic progesterone, which has health impacts.
07:15 Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone (which benefits the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian axis) are chronically suppressed with hormonal contraceptives.
07:40 It may take up to 90 or more days to normalize the HPA axis after stopping hormonal birth control.
08:45 Oral contraceptives may also contain estrogen, which suppresses the release follicle-stimulating hormone from the pituitary.
09:00 Increased risk of stroke and heart attack is linked with hormonal birth control.
09:40 Regulatory T cells are suppressed in women using hormonal birth control.
11:45 Women on the pill are attracted to less masculine genetically similar individuals, potentially leading to infertility or health problems in children.
Hi Mike, it’s interesting that you are talking about this. I recently read the book This Is Your Brain On Birth Control by Sarah Hill & found it fascinating & enlightening. It goes into a lot of what you mention & I’m sure she cites alot of the same research you do. I enjoy your content. Thanks for putting it out there 😉.