CHICAGO, December 6, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – A study recently presented to the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) suggests that taking contraceptive pills may shrink a woman’s brain size. 

The study looked at MRI scans of 50 healthy women, 21 of whom were taking oral contraceptive pills, and found that “women taking birth control pills had significantly smaller hypotha....” The hypothalamus helps to regulate key bodily functions such as the appetite, heart rate, body temperature, and emotions. 

Dr. Michael Lipton, a professor of radiology and medical director of MRI Services at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City who led the study, said:

“We found a dramatic difference in the size of the brain structures between women who were taking oral contraceptives and those who were not. We validated methods for assessing the volume of the hypothalamus and confirm, for the first time, that current oral contraceptive pill usage is associated with smaller hypothalamic volume.”

The purpose of the study, according to the researchers, was because “(t)here is limited evidence on the structural and functional effects of hormonal contraceptives on the brain. In particular, these effects on the hypothalamus are not known”.

According to the press release, the study also found “that smaller hypothalamic volume was also associated with greater anger and showed a strong correlation with depressive symptoms.”

While the press release makes clear that the findings are preliminary and that “the study found no significant correlation between hypothalamic volume and cognitive performance,” Dr. Lipton says the study should motivate further research:

"This initial study shows a strong association (between taking oral contraceptive pills and low hypothalamic volume) and should motivate further investigation into the effects of oral contraceptives on brain structure and their potential impact on brain function."

The findings of the study would appear to be consistent with several other recent studies on the effects of oral contraceptives.

In 2016, Danish researchers who studied the medical histories of more than a million women over an 18-year period found that women who use hormonal contraceptives are more likely to be depressed. A study conducted by German researchers in 2016 found that oral contraceptive pills may be damaging women’s sense of emotional connection. In 2017, another Danish study suggested a link between the use of hormonal contraceptives and mood disturbances linked to increased suicide rates.

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