Millions of women worldwide who take hormonal contraception could face unexpected changes in memory, according to new research. The study suggests that women on birth control—such as the pill, implant, or patch—may recall negative experiences differently compared with women who are naturally cycling.
Researchers at Rice University in Houston, Texas, found that women using hormonal contraception were less likely to remember specific details of negative events. Instead, they appeared to reinterpret or emotionally distance themselves from those memories, potentially softening their impact.
Beatriz Brandao, lead author and cognitive neuroscience researcher, explained: “For women, the findings highlight what many have long suspected—birth control can affect more than reproductive health. It also influences brain areas involved in emotions and memory, which are central to mental health.”
The study tracked 179 women, 87 of whom were taking hormonal contraception, mostly the pill. Participants were asked to complete questionnaires assessing their emotional regulation and mental health. They were then shown positive, negative, and neutral images while applying strategies such as distancing, reinterpretation, or immersion. Later, they completed a memory test.
Results showed that women on hormonal contraception reacted more strongly to emotional triggers. When they used coping strategies like distancing or reinterpretation, they remembered fewer details of unpleasant experiences compared with naturally cycling women. However, their overall memory capacity remained unaffected.
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Dr. Stephanie Leal, co-author and assistant professor of psychological sciences at Rice University, described the findings as “very exciting,” adding that reduced memory for negative experiences “may actually be protective.”
Hormonal contraception is widely used, with common forms including the combined oral contraceptive pill, progestogen-only pill, patch, vaginal ring, hormonal implant, progesterone injection, and hormonal IUD. Alternatives include non-hormonal methods such as condoms, copper IUDs, and diaphragms.
The researchers caution, however, that further studies are needed before drawing firm conclusions about the long-term effects of hormonal birth control on memory and emotional health.
As scientists continue investigating, the study raises important questions about how contraceptives influence not only reproductive health but also the brain’s emotional and cognitive processes.