Contraceptive pills might impair fear-regulating regions in women's brains

Re:Contraceptive pills might impair fear-regulating regions ... by Eumenes on Tuesday November 07, 2023 @09:18AM (#38176977)

A good friend of mine developed a serious case of pcos from birth control medication which started in her teen years. It's impacting her fertility, growing facial hair, pre-diabetes symptoms, and impacting weight gain/loss. Her doctors just "shrug" and suggest to get back on birth control as a solution. Imagine allowing your teenage daughter to be on a semi-permeant dosage of hormone altering poison.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Contraceptive pills might impair fear-regulating regions ... by cfu28 on Tuesday November 07, 2023 @09:40AM (#38177254)

I didn’t think PCOS could be triggered by birth control - doesn’t seem to be a lot of evidence to support this either. Looking at the mechanism of action of COCs, I can’t think of a mechanism of why COCs would cause PCOS. Oral contraceptives are usually first line in treating PCOS which makes this anecdote even more weird. Can you provide any more information?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Contraceptive pills might impair fear-regulating regions ... by Eumenes on Tuesday November 07, 2023 @09:48AM (#38177364)

Its not an officially supported theory, but there's alot of anecdotal evidence out there that going off of BC after many years can cause these symptoms with some women.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Contraceptive pills might impair fear-regulating regions ... by icelight on Tuesday November 07, 2023 @10:42AM (#38178099)

If using OC is a possible treatment, wouldn't the likelier explanation be that using it suppressed the preexisting condition and quitting just revealed the symptoms?

[ Parent | on HN ]