The latest headlines in your inbox
Parts of the brain which control sex drive are smaller in women who take the pill, a study has found.
According to a New York study the hypothalamus, the region controlling sexual desire and mood is larger in people who do not take oral birth control.
But the researchers say having a smaller hypothalamus did not affect cognitive performance or behaviour.
Professor of radiology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr Michael Lipton, 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.
“This initial study shows a strong association and should motivate further investigation into the effects of oral contraceptives on brain structure and their potential impact on brain function.”
The researchers said they also found a “strong correlation” between smaller hypothalamic volume and greater anger and depressive symptoms.
The results were presented at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting and have not been published in an academic journal.
The findings are based on brain scans of 50 healthy women, including 21 women who were taking oral contraceptives.
Some expert, however, said the results should be looked upon with caution.
Neuropsychology professor at Newcastle University, Christopher Petkov, said: “I would be very careful about concluding that oral contraceptive use is associated with smaller hypothalamic volumes from this preliminary work being presented at a scientific meeting for the authors to discuss with the scientific community as they work towards completing their study.”
Derek Hill, a professor of medical imaging at University College London, added: “Results like this are intriguing but must be treated with caution.
“In order for these results to be more conclusive, it would be necessary to undertake further research on more women, including looking at the same women before and after they take the pill, and after they come off the pill, to look for some evidence of whether the change is caused by the medicine, and whether or not it is reversible.”
