This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences
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This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences
And I guess we would all probably feel that way if we suddenly realized that our romantic partners possessed this positive quality that we never knew we wanted but are now glad we have.
Sarah Hill • This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences
Rather than relying on the biological processes that have been shaped by millions of years of evolution to help guide partner choice, pill-taking women may find themselves having to rely more exclusively on reason-based decision-making when it comes to picking partners. This could lead them into relationships that “look good on paper” but lack sexu
... See moreSarah Hill • This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences
Mate guarding can prompt great acts of romance targeted at keeping women happy and satisfied.
Sarah Hill • This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences
having a blunted stress response could also harm emotional well-being in more indirect ways through its negative impact on our ability to absorb emotionally meaningful events from our environments.
Sarah Hill • This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences
Having dynamic bursts of HPA-axis activity is one way that our brain knows that we are living meaningful lives. It helps us process emotionally complex information and embed it into our long-term memories. When it’s not functioning properly, meaningful, emotional events in our lives—both good and bad—are less able to become a part of who we are.
Sarah Hill • This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences
This is just good information to have—and information that you deserve to know—when you are making decisions about the pill and your approach to choosing long-term partners.
Sarah Hill • This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences
Too much cortisol exposure is bad news for the brain. It can cause structural and functional changes in areas of the brain like the hippocampus, which can mean bad news for women’s cognitive and emotional health.
Sarah Hill • This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences
After she went off the pill, she felt like she didn’t know who she was anymore.
Sarah Hill • This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences
This idea that women’s brains should go full tilt at high fertility is supported by research in neuroscience, which shows that estrogen acts like fertilizer on multiple regions of women’s brains.