Oestrogen Expert: Birth Control Changes Who You Are...Would You Still Love Them If You Came Off It?! Oestrogen Makes You More Attractive!
In this episode of The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett, Sarah Hill explores how birth control pills impact aspects of women's lives, from relationships to mental health. Hill explains that the pill's synthetic hormones suppress natural hormone fluctuations, altering sexual desire and preferences for masculine traits in potential partners. The discussion also covers how discontinuing birth control can shift attraction to existing partners—both positively and negatively.
Hill also highlights concerning links between hormonal contraceptives and increased risks of depression, anxiety, and physical impacts like reduced muscle building capabilities. Her findings shed light on the far-reaching effects this widespread medication can have on many facets of women's well-being.
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1-Page Summary
The effects of the birth control pill on women's sexuality
Sarah Hill highlights how the birth control pill suppresses women's natural hormonal fluctuations, which influence their sexuality and partner preferences. The synthetic progestins in the pill reduce levels of estrogen and [restricted term], leading to diminished sexual desire and libido according to Hill. Moreover, Hill says women on the pill exhibit reduced preferences for masculine facial features and behavior in potential partners compared to naturally cycling women.
Partner preferences and relationships
Hill explains that discontinuing hormonal birth control can impact women's attraction to their existing partners based on the partner's attractiveness. Women with attractive partners tend to become more attracted to them, while those with less attractive partners experience reduced attraction and sexual satisfaction off the pill. Hill notes the potential for relationship issues due to this "mismatch" in attraction levels on versus off the pill.
Mental health risks of the birth control pill
Dr. Hill states that the birth control pill puts women at increased risk of developing anxiety and depression, even after discontinuation. Research shows women on the pill are 50% more likely to be diagnosed with depression within 6 months, and twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to naturally cycling women. The mechanisms are not fully known, but Hill cites the pill's blunting of cortisol stress responses and the risks of synthetic hormones during adolescent brain development.
Effects on physical fitness and muscle building
According to Dr. Hill, the birth control pill significantly impairs women's ability to build muscle mass from exercise due to lower [restricted term] and estrogen levels, which reduces hormonal signals for muscle growth. Hill also mentions that AMPK levels linked to muscle growth are lower in pill users versus naturally cycling women. This reduced muscle building capacity could hinder women's overall physical health and capabilities.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Synthetic progestins in birth control pills work by suppressing natural hormonal fluctuations in women. They primarily reduce estrogen and [restricted term] levels, which can lead to decreased sexual desire and libido. This hormonal alteration can also affect women's preferences for masculine traits in potential partners.
- Hormonal birth control can influence women's partner preferences and attractiveness by altering their perception of their current partners' desirability. Women on the pill may experience changes in attraction levels towards their partners based on their partners' physical attractiveness. This shift in attraction can lead to potential relationship challenges due to discrepancies in perceived attractiveness levels while on or off the pill.
- The increased risk of anxiety and depression in women on the pill is linked to hormonal changes caused by synthetic progestins, which can impact mood regulation. Research suggests that these hormonal fluctuations may affect neurotransmitters like serotonin, which play a role in mental health. Additionally, the pill's influence on cortisol stress responses could contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression. The exact mechanisms behind these mental health risks are still being studied.
- The hormonal levels of estrogen and [restricted term] play a crucial role in signaling muscle growth and repair in the body. Lower levels of these hormones, as seen in women taking the birth control pill, can reduce the body's ability to build and maintain muscle mass effectively. This hormonal imbalance affects the signaling pathways involved in muscle protein synthesis, ultimately impacting women's physical fitness and muscle-building capabilities.
Counterarguments
- The relationship between hormonal birth control and sexual desire is complex and can vary greatly among individuals; some women report increased libido while on the pill due to reduced anxiety about pregnancy.
- Preferences for masculinity in partners may not solely depend on hormonal influences; social and cultural factors also play a significant role in partner selection.
- The impact of discontinuing hormonal birth control on partner attraction can be influenced by a variety of factors beyond physical attractiveness, such as emotional connection and relationship satisfaction.
- The increased risk of anxiety and depression in women on the pill may be confounded by pre-existing mental health conditions or other environmental factors that were not accounted for in the studies.
- The association between hormonal birth control and depression or suicide attempts is not necessarily causal; correlation does not imply causation, and more research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.
- Some studies have shown that hormonal birth control can have neutral or even positive effects on some aspects of physical fitness and muscle building, depending on the type of contraceptive and individual responses.
- AMPK levels and their impact on muscle growth can be influenced by a range of factors, including diet and exercise, not just the use of birth control pills.
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The effects of the birth control pill on women's psychology, including sexual attraction, libido, and partner preferences
The birth control pill has been found to suppress women's natural hormonal fluctuations, which influence their sexuality and preference in partners, potentially impacting relationships.
The birth control pill suppresses women's natural hormonal fluctuations, which influence their sexual desire and preferences
Sarah Hill felt a renewed sexual interest after discontinuing hormonal birth control, indicative of the pill's effect on desire and attraction. Explaining that hormonal birth control suppresses natural ovulatory cycles and maintains estrogen levels low, Hill highlights the pill's replacement of natural hormonal surges with a consistent daily dose of synthetic hormones. Specifically, it is the synthetic progesterone, or progestin, in birth control that keeps estrogen at low levels and prevents normal estrogen surges before ovulation, thus leading to diminished sexual interest and function. Moreover, hormonal birth control increases levels of sex hormone-binding globulin, binding to and reducing free [restricted term], crucial for sexual desire, leading to decreased libido in many women.
Synthetic hormones in the birth control pill, particularly progestins, reduce women's levels of estrogen and [restricted term], leading to decreased sexual function and diminished interest in sex
Steven Bartlett and Sarah Hill have discussed how the change in libido can be noticeable for women on the birth control pill. Hill points out that the estrogen surge typically raises women's preferences for [restricted term] markers, suggesting their preferences for masculine traits in partners may be reduced when this surge is absent. Hill also says studies have shown that women on hormonal birth control have a dampened preference for masculine facial and behavioral cues in partners compared to naturally cycling women.
Women on the birth control pill exhibit reduced preferences for masculine facial and behavioral cues in potential partners, compared to women in their natural menstrual cycle
Hill discusses how men with high [restricted term] levels exhibit male characteristics that naturally cycling women find attractive, but women on the pill show a preference for less masculinized faces. The change in women's preferences can potentially impact their relationships and possibly the hormones of their partners, with speculation that women's use of hormonal birth control might influence men's [restricted term] levels, though research on the topic has not yet reached a conclusion.
Changes in women's partner preferences on the birth control pill can impact their relationships
Women partnered with attractive men become more at ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
The effects of the birth control pill on women's psychology, including sexual attraction, libido, and partner preferences
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- The synthetic hormones in birth control pills, particularly progestins, can lower estrogen levels by preventing natural estrogen surges before ovulation. Additionally, these synthetic hormones can reduce free [restricted term] levels by increasing sex hormone-binding globulin, impacting sexual desire and function in women. This decrease in estrogen and [restricted term] levels due to synthetic hormones can lead to diminished libido and altered partner preferences in women using hormonal birth control. The changes in hormone levels caused by synthetic hormones can influence women's sexual attraction and partner preferences while on the pill.
- The use of hormonal birth control can influence women's preferences for masculine traits in partners. Research suggests that women on the pill may show a reduced preference for masculine facial and behavioral cues compared to naturally cycling women. This shift in preferences is linked to the hormonal changes caused by synthetic hormones, particularly progestins, which alter estrogen and [restricted term] levels in the body. These changes can impact how women perceive attractiveness in potential partners while on hormonal birth control.
- The speculation about how women's use of hormonal birth control might influence men's [restricted term] levels is based on the idea that changes in women's hormonal profiles due to birth control could potentially impact their partner's hormone levels through various mechanisms, such as altered pheromone production or behavioral cues. This hypothesis suggests a potential indirect influence of women's contraceptive choices on their male partners' physiology, although conclusive research findings on this specific topic are currently lacking.
- When women are on the birth control pill, their hormonal changes can affect their attraction levels towards their partners. Discontinuing the pill can lead to a shift in these attraction levels, potentially making women more or les ...
Counterarguments
- The relationship between hormonal birth control and sexual desire is complex and not solely determined by hormonal levels; psychological, relational, and contextual factors also play significant roles.
- Some studies suggest that the impact of birth control pills on libido and sexual function is variable, with some women reporting no change or even an increase in sexual desire.
- The reduction in preference for masculine traits among pill users is not universally observed, and individual differences in partner preference are influenced by a multitude of factors beyond hormonal status.
- The idea that women's preferences for their partners change significantly when discontinuing the pill is not consistently supported by research, and such changes may not be as common or as pronounced as suggested.
- The potential impact of women's hormonal contraceptive use on men's [restricted term] levels is speculative and not supported by a robust body of scientific evidence.
- The assertion that most men will find their partners more attractive when they cycle naturally is a ...
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The impact of the birth control pill on women's mental health, including risk of anxiety and depression
The birth control pill, widely used for contraception, has been linked to increased risk of mental health issues in women, including anxiety and depression. Dr. Sarah Hill has shed light on the significant mental health consequences that women might face due to the use of these hormonal contraceptives.
The birth control pill can increase women's risk of developing anxiety and depression
Dr. Hill notes the substantial mental health risks for women who take the birth control pill, stating that it's like putting them on a long-term risk of developing major depressive disorder even after they've gone off the pill. Research has demonstrated that women on the pill are 50% more likely to be diagnosed with depression within six months and are twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to naturally cycling women. For teenage girls, the risk of attempting or successfully completing suicide is significantly heightened when on hormonal birth control.
Dr. Hill mentions her own experience, recalling that after she stopped taking the pill, her ability to feel emotions deeply changed, consistent with the notion that the pill can alter mood and emotion regulation. She also states that while the effects on sexual desire are not necessarily permanent, they can be long-lasting, especially if the pill is taken during adolescence. Dr. Hill asserts that one can usually recover sexual desire and return to their state before taking the pill once they discontinue it.
The mechanisms behind the mental health effects are not fully understood, but may involve the pill's suppression of natural hormonal fluctuations
The precise mechanisms behind these effects are not fully understood. However, it has been found that the birth control pill blunts women's cortisol stress responses, which may dysregulate emotional and immune functioning. Dr. Hill explains that while chronic high levels of cortisol can be harmful, dynamic spikes in response to stress are adaptive, and the blunted cortisol response seen in women on ...
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The impact of the birth control pill on women's mental health, including risk of anxiety and depression
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Dynamic spikes in cortisol response to stress being adaptive means that the body's ability to produce short-term increases in cortisol levels in response to stress is a normal and beneficial physiological response. These spikes help the body cope with immediate challenges by mobilizing energy and resources for a fight-or-flight response. However, chronic or prolonged elevation of cortisol levels can be detrimental to health, leading to issues like impaired immune function and emotional regulation. In the context of hormonal birth control, the blunting of these dynamic cortisol responses may disrupt the body's natural stress adaptation mechanisms, potentially impacting emotional well-being and immune function.
- During adolescence, the brain undergoes significant changes as it matures from a child's brain to an adult brain. Sex hormones play a crucial role in this process, influencing brain development. Introducing synthetic hormones through birth control pills during this critical period may potentially interfere with the natural hormonal balance needed for healthy brain development. Research gaps exist regarding the specific effects of synthetic hormones on the developing adolescent brain.
- During adolescence, the brain undergoes significant changes as it matures from a child's brain to an adult brain ...
Counterarguments
- The association between birth control pills and mental health issues does not necessarily imply causation; other factors could contribute to the increased risk of anxiety and depression.
- Some studies have found no significant link between hormonal contraceptive use and depression, suggesting that the relationship may vary among individuals.
- The increased risk of suicide attempts or completions may be influenced by pre-existing mental health conditions or socio-economic factors that are not accounted for in the research.
- The personal experience of Dr. Hill, while valuable, may not be representative of all women's experiences with the birth control pill.
- The long-term effects on sexual desire and emotional regulation may be overstated, as individual responses to hormonal contraceptives can differ greatly.
- The blunted cortisol response could be an adaptive change to the body's new hormonal environment rather than a pathological one.
- The impact of synthetic hormones on adolescent brain development is an area of ongoing research, and definitive conclusions cannot yet be drawn.
- The potential benefits of birth control pills, such as reduced risk of certa ...
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The effects of the birth control pill on women's physical fitness and muscle building
Recent discussions with Sarah Hill have brought to light that the birth control pill may have a notable impact on women's physical fitness, specifically their capacity to build muscle from exercise.
The birth control pill can impair women's ability to build muscle mass from exercise
Dr. Sarah Hill emphasizes that the birth control pill can significantly affect a woman’s ability to gain muscle mass. This effect is due to the alteration of natural hormone levels— lower [restricted term] and estrogen in women on the pill reduce the hormonal signals crucial for muscle growth.
Lower [restricted term] and estrogen levels in women on the pill reduce the hormonal signals that promote muscle growth
Women using hormonal birth control have been shown to put on less muscle mass when engaging in the same exercises as women who are not on the pill. The pill users had lower levels of [restricted term], a hormone that plays a key role in muscle development.
AMPK levels linked to muscle growth are lower in women on hormonal birth control
AMPK levels, which are believed to be higher when estrogen levels are high and thus promote muscle growth, are lower in women using hormonal birth control compared to those who are naturally cycling. This suggests that hormonal contraception can suppress the biological processes that support muscle building.
The birth control pill's effects on fitness may be another underappreciated consequence
The reduced ability to build muscle mass and strength among pill users could pose a significant concern, as it may hinder women's overall ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
The effects of the birth control pill on women's physical fitness and muscle building
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in regulating cellular energy balance. In the context of muscle growth, AMPK levels can influence the body's response to exercise and nutrient availability. Higher AMPK levels are associated with increased energy production and utilization in muscles, which can impact muscle growth and overall physical performance. Lower AMPK levels, as seen in women on hormonal birth control, may indicate a potential reduction in the body's ability to support muscle development in response to exercise stimuli.
- Hormonal birth control, like the pill, can impact muscle building by altering hormone levels. Lower [restricted term] and estrogen levels in women on the pill reduce the hormonal signals crucial for muscle growth. This can lead to reduced muscle mass and strength in women using hormonal contraception. Additionally, hormonal birth control may suppress AMPK levels, which are linked to promoting muscle growth.
- Reduced muscle mass and strength can impact overall health by affecting metabolism, increasing the risk of injury, and reducing functional abilities for daily tasks. Maintaining muscle mass is crucial for metabolic health, as muscles burn more calories at rest than fat. Strong muscles also support joint stability and balance, reducing the likelihood of falls and related injuries. Addition ...
Counterarguments
- The relationship between birth control pills and muscle mass is complex and may vary among individuals; some women may not experience significant impacts on muscle building.
- The impact of birth control pills on muscle growth can be influenced by other factors such as diet, exercise intensity, and genetic predispositions, which might mitigate or exacerbate the hormonal effects.
- There are different types of hormonal birth control with varying levels of hormones, and some may have less impact on muscle building than others.
- The benefits of birth control pills, such as preventing unwanted pregnancies and managing menstrual-related symptoms, may outweigh the potential drawbacks related to muscle building for many women.
- Physical fitness and muscle strength are multifaceted, and hormonal birth control may not significantly hinder a woman's overall health and physical capabilities when considering the full spectrum of health benefits and fitness strategies.
- Some research suggests that while hormonal birth control might alter the rate of muscle ga ...
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1-Page Summary- The effects of the birth control pill on women's psychology, including sexual attraction, libido, and partner preferences
- The impact of the birth control pill on women's mental health, including risk of anxiety and depression
- The effects of the birth control pill on women's physical fitness and muscle building
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