Hormonal contraception linked to emotional regulation

Hormonal contraception linked to emotional regulation | Image Credit: © nenetus - © nenetus - stock.adobe.com.

Alongside preventing pregnancy, hormonal contraceptives (HCs) may be effective for managing endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and irregular cycles, according to a recent study published in Hormones and Behavior.¹

These contraceptive methods have also been linked to mood changes, weight fluctuations, and emotional ups and downs. Overall, stronger emotional responses were found in women using HC vs those without contraception, which may help this population move past negative emotional experiences.¹

“For women, the findings highlight what many have long suspected: Birth control can affect more than reproductive health,” said Beatriz Brandao, lead study author and graduate student at Rice University. “Hormonal birth control does more than prevent pregnancy—it also influences brain areas involved in emotions and memory.”¹

Experimental conditions and contraceptive use

There were 179 participants aged 18 to 35 years included in the analysis, 87 of whom were in the HC group and 92 were in the natural cycle (NC) group.² Eligibility criteria for the HC group included at least 3 months of active HC use before study participation, while the NC group included patients with no HC use for at least 3 months before participation.

Patients with current pregnancy, pregnancy within the past year, hysterectomy or menopause history, and breastfeeding were excluded from the analysis. Participants were randomized to 1 of 3 experimental conditions.²

These included no emotional regulation for controls, distancing towards negative images and Immersion towards positive images (D/I), and Reinterpretation towards negative images and Immersion towards positive images (R/I). HC and NC participants were balanced across these conditions.²

Emotional regulation techniques

Reproductive status, demographics, and medical history data was obtained using a demographics form and a Medical Screening Form. Questionnaires were also distributed to determine emotion regulation abilities, tendencies, and mental health.²

A reproductive health questionnaire was distributed to evaluate participants’ HC use, reproductive health history, menstrual cycle characteristics, and medication use. Current HC use was reported by 49% of participants, with 86.2% indicating they used HCs for reproductive purposes and 13.8% reporting use for non-contraceptive reasons.²

Distancing from negative images was defined as developing an impartial viewpoint of negative stimulus, while reinterpretation was defined as changing the meaning of an image by stating something to feel less negative. Immersion in positive images was defined as approaching them with an engaged mindset, picturing them close to oneself.²

Emotional reactivity and HC use

Demographic and questionnaire results did not significantly differ between HC users vs nonusers. When assessing emotional reactivity, investigators found a significant main effect of HC status. Emotional reactivity was significantly greater among participants using HCs vs those not using HCs (F(1,173) = 5.30, p = .022).²

Increased emotional reactivity was also observed for negative relative to positive images (F(1,173) = 52.19, p < .001). Emotion significantly correlated with the experimental group, with a greater difference reported in those utilizing R/I vs D/I. The control group presented with the greatest difference in emotional reactivity.²

Investigators also highlighted a significant main effect of emotion in the D/I group (F(1, 57) = 12.28, p < .001). These patients had increased emotion regulation success toward positive images vs negative images, and this effect was also observed in HC users vs nonusers.²

Applying immersion toward positive images was linked to increased emotion regulation success vs either reinterpretation or distancing toward negative images. HC status did not significantly impact this correlation.²

Implications for women’s health

These results indicated an impact of HC on emotional activity and emotional regulation success. Investigators concluded that psychological and cognitive components are both effective for use in women’s health care.²

“These results are novel and shed light on how hormonal contraceptives may influence emotion and memory processes in important ways,” said Bryan Denny, PhD, BA, MA, study co-author and associate professor of psychological sciences at Rice University.¹

References

1. Millions of women rely on contraceptives, but new Rice study shows they may do more than just prevent pregnancy. Rice University. August 29, 2025. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1096501.
2. Brandao BM, Castro M, Buergler JB, Clark KR, Denny BT, Leal SL. Emotion regulation strategies differentially impact memory in hormonal contraceptive users. Hormones and Behaviors. 2025;175. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2025.105805