Apparently, there are other non-hormonal reasons not to take oral contraceptives. The findings are contained in a new study, “Oral Contraceptive Use Impairs Muscle Gains in Young Women,” It was conducted in Texas A&M University, and the University of Pittsburgh.
The study: 73 healthy women between the ages of 18-31 were assigned to two groups and completed a 10-week whole-body resistance exercise training. Group 1 consisted of 34 women who used oral contraceptives (OC). Group 2 consisted of 39 women who did not take birth control pills (non-OC).
The women were encouraged to consume at least 0.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day (a third more than is called for by the U.S. government nutritional guidelines) to make sure they consumed enough calories and protein to promote muscle growth.
The results were that the women on birth control generated 60% of the muscle mass than the women who were not on them. The reason for it is still unclear but the results were so drastic that there is no much room for doubt.
