Can Oral Contraceptives Help Build More Muscle?
Resistance training is any type of exercise that increases both the strength and endurance of muscles. There are different ways to do resistance training exercises, such as using body weight, free weights, weight machines, and resistance bands to provide muscles the appropriate stimulation they need in order to build strength and endurance. Engaging in regular resistance training is crucial for staying in good physical health because it can help maintain and build muscle, prevent a decrease in bone density, increase flexibility and mobility, improve metabolic markers, and increase the basal metabolic rate. Moreover, it can also positively affect mental health by reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms. Current exercise guidelines recommend spending at least two days a week on resistance training and targeting all muscle groups (arms, legs, chest, back, and core) in addition to aerobic exercise.
Oral contraceptives are medications that contain the hormones ethinyl estradiol and progestin, or only progestin, and are used to prevent pregnancy. They are 91-99% effective, and can treat reproductive disorders for those with a female reproductive system including polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, acne, primary ovarian insufficiency, premenstrual syndrome, and periods that are irregular, absent, heavy, or painful. There are two main types of oral contraceptives: the mini-pill, which contains just progestin, and the combined pill, which contains both estradiol and progestin. Because of their usefulness in preventing pregnancy and treating reproductive disorders, roughly 14% of females aged 15–49 in the United States and 16% of females aged 15–49 worldwide currently use oral contraceptives.
Oral contraceptives are medications that contain the hormones ethinyl estradiol and progestin, or only progestin, and are used to prevent pregnancy. They are 91-99% effective, and can treat reproductive disorders for those with a female reproductive system including polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, acne, primary ovarian insufficiency, premenstrual syndrome, and periods that are irregular, absent, heavy, or painful. There are two main types of oral contraceptives: the mini-pill, which contains just progestin, and the combined pill, which contains both estradiol and progestin. Because of their usefulness in preventing pregnancy and treating reproductive disorders, roughly 14% of females aged 15–49 in the United States and 16% of females aged 15–49 worldwide currently use oral contraceptives.
Combined oral contraceptive pills contain the hormones ethinyl estradiol and a progestin, which are synthetic versions of the hormones estrogen and progesterone produced by the body. Prescriptions generally include three week’s worth of hormone-containing pills and one week of sugar pills for a withdrawal week, which is when the uterine lining is shed, similarly to the menstrual period. These medications are very effective in preventing pregnancy and treating many reproductive disorders, such as endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Image Source: Karolina Grabowska
Although oral contraceptives are commonly used by females in the general population, an estimated 20-70% of elite female athletes also use them. However, little is known about how they affect muscle growth and resistance training outcomes. To learn about the potential interaction between oral contraceptives and muscle growth, researchers from Denmark conducted a study to investigate several factors: cross-sectional area of muscle fibers (which indicate how much strength a muscle can generate), the amount of myosatellite cells in the fibers (to document muscle regeneration and recovery), expression of muscle regulatory factor 4 (which promotes muscle development), and the type of myosin present in the fibers (since myosin heavy chains give muscles different characteristics).
The study recruited 20 individuals taking a second generation combined oral contraceptive and 19 nonusers. The participants participated in a ten-week resistance training program and had a muscle biopsy done of the vastus lateralis before and after the program. After the completion of the study, the researchers found that participants that were on the pill had better muscle regeneration and recovery, as well as more promotion of muscle development, compared to those that were not taking the pill.
While the study found that females using oral contraceptives had higher levels of muscle growth markers than those not using them, it had several limitations. Since only second generation combined pills were used, the results cannot be generalized to all forms of birth control. Additionally, birth control has its own set of risks that should be considered before starting the medication, such as nausea, high blood pressure, blood clots, and even heart attacks. Despite these limitations, the findings of this study are innovative since this topic had never been researched before. Although a definite statement cannot be made yet about how birth control pills affect muscle growth, there may be a relationship between the two based on the findings of the study. Understanding how these two factors interact with each other is important not only for athletes, but for every female because the results of resistance training and maintaining muscle mass is crucial for both short-term and long-term health outcomes.
The study recruited 20 individuals taking a second generation combined oral contraceptive and 19 nonusers. The participants participated in a ten-week resistance training program and had a muscle biopsy done of the vastus lateralis before and after the program. After the completion of the study, the researchers found that participants that were on the pill had better muscle regeneration and recovery, as well as more promotion of muscle development, compared to those that were not taking the pill.
While the study found that females using oral contraceptives had higher levels of muscle growth markers than those not using them, it had several limitations. Since only second generation combined pills were used, the results cannot be generalized to all forms of birth control. Additionally, birth control has its own set of risks that should be considered before starting the medication, such as nausea, high blood pressure, blood clots, and even heart attacks. Despite these limitations, the findings of this study are innovative since this topic had never been researched before. Although a definite statement cannot be made yet about how birth control pills affect muscle growth, there may be a relationship between the two based on the findings of the study. Understanding how these two factors interact with each other is important not only for athletes, but for every female because the results of resistance training and maintaining muscle mass is crucial for both short-term and long-term health outcomes.
Featured Image Source: John Arano
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