Oral Contraceptives Linked to Thinning in Brain's Fear-Processing Region: Reversible Effects Require Further Research

Study Reveals Daily Contraceptive Users Have Thinner Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex, Potentially Impacting Emotional Regulation and Fear Processing, Yet Effects Seem Reversible upon Discontinuation of Pill Use.

• The use of daily oral contraceptives may thin the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex (vmPFC), a region of the brain important for emotional regulation and fear processing, according to a Canadian study. Oral contraceptives saw usage by nearly two-thirds of American women aged 15 to 49 as of 2018.
• Through examination of 139 women, between ages 23 and 35, using oral contraceptives, having discontinued them, or never having used them, alongside 41 men, researchers found the women currently using the pill had a thinner vmPFC compared to men. This thinning could potentially impair emotional regulation.
• The effects of the contraceptive pill on the brain seem to be reversible, as those who had stopped using the contraceptive did not show the same thinning of the vmPFC as those actively using them. This finding indicates that the brain could recover once the pill is discontinued.
• Previous research has indicated an increased risk of depression and emotional regulation for women who started taking contraceptives during their teens, with some reporting changes in partner preferences once they stopped taking the pill. However, the connection between these changes and the thinning of brain regions needs more examination.
• The researchers believe that the potential impact of contraceptives on the brain should receive more attention. Their objectives are not to discourage the use of birth control, but rather to raise awareness and stimulate further research on how the pill could impact brain development.

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