According to the new research, the use of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) could impair a woman’s social judgment, making it more difficult to identify more complex emotions such as pride or contempt. The evidence has suggested this association to be casual, but its impact on intimate relationship remains unknown. In addition to birth control, OCPs are indicated to control acne, heavy periods and endometriosis as well as to reduce the risk of certain cancers such as ovarian, uterine and colon.
Although it is known that OCPs can slightly increase the risk of breast and cervical cancer, blood clots and high blood pressure, evidence of their impact on psychological health are limited. A study published in the journal “Frontiers in Neuroscience” , showed that about 10% women who received OCPs were worse at recognizing the most complex emotional expressions, such as pride and contempt,…
