This Is Your Brain On Birth Control: Book Review
Wow, it’s been a while. Since starting this blog I realized how important it is to me to have a deep understanding of my topics. I’ve spent the past few months studying sciences, nourishing my inner creative, and exploring lifestyles in new cities. I haven’t had as much motivation to write in-depth about one single topic as it feels like I’m coming across millions of new pieces of information and unique perspectives every day. That being said, I’m going to write a few posts in the following days that round up materials that have piqued my interest since turning twenty-two.
The first time I started listening to this book on Audible I didn’t stop for 5 hours straight (long flight).
But I simply couldn’t pause it. By now we know that I have a personal interest in the topic of birth control - what it really is, how it works, the differences between its many forms, and how it affects us in the short and long term. However, I don’t believe you need to be passionate about the topic to read this book. If you have hormones, you must read this.
The book’s purpose is not to steer you away or move you toward birth control, but instead, to give you all the information the scientific community currently knows about it. This way you can make an empowered and informed decision for yourself and your quality of life.
A Highlight:
Did you know being on the pill has been proven to affect who we are attracted to? Hill discusses a study that found women on the pill were more attracted to soft, round, feminine features in a man but women off the pill were more attracted to masculine-looking men with square jaws and prominent features. Think about how this may affect relationships that begin when a woman is on the pill and how they might fair once she goes off of it. While not every woman experiences this phenomenon and studies in this space are still in their infancy, the data here was indeed statistically significant.
The Bottom Line:
Hill states that we often feel that our hormones are something that happen to us. One minute we’re fine and then puberty hits and suddenly an outside force seems to be changing everything we know about ourselves. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, we ARE our hormones. Thus, when we alter them in any way, we can change who we are: our personality, drive, and physical appearance (sometimes for better, sometimes for worse). While birth control is wonderful in some cases, life-changing even; in other instances, the drawbacks may outweigh the advantages.
Ultimately, Hill encourages women to find out who they are without the pill so that if they feel inclined to try birth control, they know which state they feel best in. It is important to note that there are many different types and classes of birth control so one form might be a godsend for you and another not so much. Hill gives a rundown of the 45 most common types, a general lesson on how they differ, and what you might want to try based on your needs. It is an invaluable resource for women and truly an investment in your overall well-being.