The Pill: Is It Messing Up Our Brain and Body?

Science Vs

Spotify Studios

Science, Education, Health & Fitness

4.4 • 11.7K Ratings

🗓️ 21 November 2024

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For decades, taking the birth control pill to prevent pregnancy was seen as a no-brainer. But lately, people are saying that it’s actually a brain-changer. They say that the pill can affect who you’re attracted to, that it can tank your libido, and that it can make you depressed. Instead, some influencers are telling us to try an amazing, hormone-free method — where all you have to do is listen to your body. So … are they right?? We’re tackling these birth control claims and more, with psychologist Dr. Julia Stern, biologist Madita Zetzsche, neuroscientist Dr. Caitlin Taylor, and ob-gyn Dr. Jasmine Patel. This episode does mention depression. Here are some crisis hotlines: United States: US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Dial 988 (Online chat available); US Crisis Text Line Text “HOME” to 741741 Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (Online chat available) Canada: Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (See link for phone numbers listed by province) United Kingdom: Samaritans 116 123 (UK and ROI) Full list of international hotlines here Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsThePill In this episode, we cover: (00:00) The Pill Under Fire (04:08) Does The Pill change who you’re attracted to? (13:00) Could The Pill turn off your ovulation scent? (18:59) How bad is The Pill for our sex drive and mental health? (21:10) Does The Pill really change your brain? (24:40) Does The Pill make you gain weight? (26:16) So how dangerous is The Pill — really? (27:10) Fertility Awareness Methods — are they too good to be true?? (31:32) Can pre-cum get you pregnant? Credits: This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Wendy Zukerman, along with Michelle Dang, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, and Meryl Horn. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Eva Dasher. Recording assistance from Emile B Klein. Mix and sound design by Sam Bair. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, and Emma Munger. Thanks to all the researchers we spoke with for this episode, including Dr. Adriene Beltz, Prof. Alison Edelman, Dr. Emily Pfender, Prof. Jayashri Kulkarni, Dr. Jill Krapf, Dr. Rachel Urrutia, and Dr. Therese Johansson. Special thanks to Miah Foster. Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm Wendy Zuckerman and you're listening to Science Verses.
0:05.2	This is the show that pits facts against fallopian tubes.
0:10.2	Today, we are tackling the pill.
0:17.8	The pill burst onto the scene in the 1960s, and for tons of folks, it was seen as this wonderful thing.
0:25.4	Country singer Loretta Lynn even wrote a song about how the pill was going to open up all of these possibilities for women.
0:32.6	But all I've seen of this own world is a bed and a doctor bill.
0:38.7	I'm tearing down your brooder house because now I've got the pill.
0:45.1	This song was a hit and the freedom that she's singing about, about choosing when to get
0:50.9	pregnant and how many babies you're going to have.
0:53.5	It just resonated with loads of women.
0:56.2	In fact, since the pill came out, women are more likely to go to college,
0:59.9	become lawyers, judges and doctors.
1:02.5	Plus, the wage gap between men and women has narrowed by 30%.
1:07.0	And some economists say that this is a direct result of the pill.
1:12.4	But you've asked forward to today.
1:15.0	And for many, the pill has gone from hero to zero.
1:21.7	People say that pumping ourselves with these hormones can be harmful.
1:26.2	Birth control is one of the most damaging things you can put in your bodies.
1:30.3	And that it can even change parts of our personality, like who you're attracted to,
1:35.3	and also who is attracted to you.
1:38.3	Birth control can actually affect a women's tasted men.
1:40.3	We actually choose mates that are less compatible when we're on hormonal birth control.
	...

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