A new neuroimaging study reveals women who take oral contraception have reduced hypothalamic volume compared to women who do not take the pill. Smaller hypothalamic volume was associated with increased negative emotions and depression risk.
Women who take oral birth control pills have higher levels of oxytocin than women who don't use the pill.
Researchers say almost one third of Americans are unknowingly taking medications that can increase depression and suicide risks.
Oral contraceptive use is associated with blunted stress response and brain activity differences during working memory tasks in women who started using birth control during puberty. Early adulthood exposure to oral contraceptives was linked to significant structural changes in brain areas associated with memory and emotional processing.
Women who used oral contraceptive pills during their teenage years are at increased risk of depression.
Hormonal contraception disrupts signal transmission between cells in the prefrontal cortex of adolescents. Hormonal birth control also elevates levels of stress hormones in the brain.
