Social activities reduces stress hormones levels in women who don't use oral contraceptives- however, it has no effect on women who use them. The corresponding study was published in Clinical Epigenetics.
Studies show that women who use oral contraceptives have an increased risk of cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health disorders compared to women who don't use the drugs. A growing body of research also suggests that contraceptive use influences behavior. For example, the drugs have been linked to reduced perseverance and performance on cognitive tasks, changes in partner preference, and lower relationship satisfaction. Understanding more about how oral contraceptives affect the body beyond reproductive health could inform clinical guidelines and family planning options.
Recently, researchers examined how oral contraceptives affect the stress response in young women. To do so, they recruited 131 women at an average age of 20.5 years old, including 48 who used contraceptives and 83 who did not. For the study, the participants were initially asked to fill in questionnaires providing information on their demographics, closeness with others, and mood. They also provided a blood sample.
Soon after, they were randomly assigned into groups of four and asked to engage in 15 minutes of interactive activities, including non-competitive board games, singing, and sharing stories to foster interpersonal attachment and alleviate stress. After this, they once again filled in questionnaires detailing their closeness to others and their mood. They also provided another blood sample. From the blood samples, the researchers were able to assess levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a hormone that regulates the production of stress hormone, cortisol.
Ultimately, the researchers found that socializing reduced ACTH levels among women who did not use contraceptives during certain phases of their menstrual cycle. They noted, however, that socializing produced little to no effect in women who used oral contraceptives.
The researchers noted that there are several competing hypotheses that may explain the differing effects. One possible explanation, they noted, is that oral contraceptives suppress the body's production of progesterone. Progesterone breaks down into the hormone allopregnanolone, which can influence the stress response and is known to have calming effects. By reducing progesterone levels, oral contraceptives lower allopregnanolone levels, which in turn 'disconnects' the stress response and disables it from adapting to different situations.
The researchers additionally found that socializing increased closeness and improved mood both among women who used contraceptives and those who did not, regardless of where they were in their menstrual cycle.
While the findings shed light on some potential effects of oral contraceptives, the study has some limitations. In particular, the researchers noted that they lacked information detailing the duration and type of oral contraceptives used by the participants. They added that assessing other stress biomarkers, such as cortisol, may provide a more complete picture of how oral contraceptives affect the stress response. Lastly, they wrote that their sample primarily included young, Caucasian, college-aged students, meaning that their findings might not apply to more diverse populations.
Sources: Neuroscience News, Science Direct