A new study looked at women’s ability to read facial expressions while on birth control.
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. women of reproductive age are currently using contraception. The most common methods used are female sterilization, oral contraception pills (OCPs), and intrauterine devices (IUDs), according to the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC).
And while birth control has helped millions of women prevent pregnancy and regulate their periods, contraception also comes with various side effects for women.
There can be physical side effects — such as breast tenderness, spotting between periods, and weight gain — and there can be the emotional ones: mood swings, increased anxiety, and depression. Some people may not experience any noticeable side effects while on contraception, and some may give up on the idea of pill or drug-based contraception altogether
Now, new research suggests that oral contraceptives may actually result in a woman’s ability to judge social situations.
A new small study found that women who were taking OCPs tended to be poorer judges of deciphering subtle emotional expressions. The study was published today in Frontiers in Neuroscience.