According to a paper just published in Behavioural Brain Research, women who were not on birth control and who were put in social situations designed to reduce stress like singing in groups and playing board games, saw their levels of stress-regulating hormone ACTH drop. Women who were on the hormone-infused oral contraceptive put in the same social situations, on the other hand, did not experience any reduction in ACTH.
Results by Menstrual Phase
The authors split 131 women into two different groups. Both groups were asked to give blood samples upon arrival at the research site. The needle acted as a source of anticipatory stress in addition to its role as a tool to collect blood.Participants also answered questions about their current mood and level of closeness with other people. They were all then assigned to various activities such as playing board games, getting to know each other in small groups, singing songs together, or attending a church service.
Afterward, women from both groups were asked to revisit the initial study questions about mood and closeness, and another blood sample was drawn. An intravenous catheter was put in at the same time the initial blood sample was collected to avoid causing additional stress due to a second prick.
When their cycles were accounted for (menstrual, proliferative, or secretory phase), stress-reducing activities were successful in women not taking birth control who were in their menstrual phase or their secretory phase. They saw a 13.5 percent and 7.4 percent reduction in ACTH, respectively. However, there was no change in ACTH levels in the women who were in the proliferation phase of their cycle.
“Progesterone levels are very low during the proliferative phase of a natural cycle.” Mr. Winterdahl said. Progesterone converts to the hormone allopregnanolone, which therefore regulates stress.
Yet, women who were on birth control had the lowest progesterone levels.
The Pill, ACTH, Progesterone and Allopregnanolone
It’s too soon to tell why ACTH levels flatlined in connection with social activities and the complex mechanisms involved in the relationship between hormone levels and stress response need more untangling.However, the researchers are working based on the theory that birth-control pills can suppress the body’s own production of progesterone.
Birth control contains progesterone which is the hormone that prevents pregnancy. Progesterone is broken down into the hormone allopregnanolone, which is involved in a wide range of calming effects and stress responses.
Common Adverse Events of Birth Control Pills
While most side effects of birth control are mild and short-term, women should be aware that the pill can cause:- Breakthrough bleeding
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Abdominal cramping
- Breast tenderness
- Vaginal discharge
- Decreased libido
- Disrupted glucose metabolism
