How the Pill Changes Everything: Your Brain on Birth Control with Dr Sarah E Hill

Dr Sarah E Hill, research psychologist and author of ‘How the Pill Changes Everything; Your Brain on Birth Control’ talks with Angela about what is really happening to your brain and your body when you are taking a hormonal birth control. They discuss the potential impact and effects of influencing hormones during post pubertal construction along how being on the pill can influence women in their partner choices. Hormonal birth control has been transformative in women’s lives but understanding how those hormones influence developmental processes and the production of cortisol is vital. This episode has hugely informative content that all women should hear about how hormonal birth control can influence how you think, feel and experience the world. KEY TAKEAWAYS When you take hormonal birth control the primary mechanism of action is the brain because the brain controls ovulation For women pregnancy requires almost every single major system in the body to change in some way There are hormone receptors all over the brain and body and our bodies are incredibly sensitive to our sex hormones When oestrogen increases it increases women’s desire and a preference for men with particular masculine facial cues With diverse MHC genes your body recognises a greater number of antigens and can respond to them Women should be aware that being on the pill can influence their partner choices Hormones have both activational affects when they influence something immediate and organisational effects where the hormones are influencing developmental processes that are creating structures in the body Hormones direct the way the brain is constructed during post pubertal construction and any hormonal change will affect this The research has shown that women on hormonal birth control have a blunted cortisol response to stress Cortisol helps the body cope with the stressful situation and to process memories to cope better in the future BEST MOMENTS ‘Research is now confirming what women have long suspected that taking the pill most affects your brain’ ‘The brain is incredibly plastic and will find ways around things that aren’t organised in the way it needs’ ‘Stress and cortisol release means that something important is happening’ VALUABLE RESOURCES High Performance Health podcast series\ Transform your sleep DNA optimization High Performance website How the Pill Changes Everything; Your Brain on Birth Control Sarah E. Hill ABOUT THE HOST Angela Foster Angela is a Nutritionist, Health and Performance Coach. She is also the Founder and CEO of My DNA Edge, an Exclusive Private Membership Site giving individuals the tools and bio hacks needed to optimise their genetic expression for optimal health and performance. After recovering from a serious illness in 2014, Angela left the world of Corporate Law with a single mission in mind: To inspire and educate others to live an energetic, healthful and limitless life. Angela believes that we can truly have it all and has spent the last 5 years researching the habits and routines of high performers, uncovering age-old secrets, time-honoured holistic practices and modern science to create a blueprint for Optimal Human Performance. CONTACT DETAILS Instagram Facebook LinkedIn High Performance Health FB Group