Recent research on the effect of birth control pills on asthma shows surprising results. Hormones in the medication may reduce the severity of asthma. Also, it can considerably reduce the risk of breathing issues in women. However, the opinions are mixed in this case.
In this post, we will explore the findings of the research. As we will also discuss what the experts have to say on the influence of birth control pills on asthma.
Female Reproductive Hormones and Asthma
Do you know any female who has hit puberty with increased complaints about asthma? You may pass it as a normal event because people may suffer from respiratory issues now and then. However, there is a possible link between female sex hormones and asthma. And a study including a half million women throws some light on this topic.
Researchers say that birth control pills can lower the risk of asthma in women. This is related to the lowering of hormone production responsible for respiratory problems. So, those taking oral contraceptive pills are perhaps at a lower risk of encountering breathing troubles.
Female reproductive hormones may raise the risk of asthma. So, it is evident why several teenagers experience asthma after reaching puberty. As you hit puberty, your body starts the release of estrogenic and progesterone. And asthma attacks may increase during menstruation.
Birth Control Pills and Asthma
So, by balancing the sex hormones, women do experience relief. This is why birth control pills are a respite for those with breathing trouble. The medication keeps the hormone levels stable throughout the menstrual cycle. Also, the effects are better for those using the pill for a longer duration.
If you are of reproductive age and take birth control pills, you may relate to this fact. The study also reports that hormonal birth control itself can lower the risk of asthma. It does not have to be an oral contraceptive alone. Such an event is also possible for females using shots, patches, etc.
Those who are in reproductive, but not on birth control pills, are at an increased asthma risk. The risk is more than the ones who take the medication. Also, the intensity of the symptoms is higher in females who are not on the pills, compared to those who take them.
Hormones and Their Impact on Asthma
The authors of the study say that every event in the female reproductive cycle is related to hormones. Everyone knows that menstruation, the onset of puberty, pregnancy, and menopause depends on female sex hormones. So, the hormones have an impact on asthma as per the findings.
For a few females in menstruation, asthma symptoms are more severe. This is primarily due to ups and downs in progesterone and estradiol levels. Birth control pills lower the release of endogenous sex hormones. In turn, the level of progesterone and estradiol also reduces.
This can benefit women with asthma. They may experience less serious symptoms. Or females who do not have respiratory troubles may never experience those. When studying lakhs of women in the age group of 16 to 45 for 6 years between 2000 and 2016. 25,000 or more participants developed asthma.
It is a probability that birth control pills may lower the risk of asthma by 30%. This is against those females who do not take oral contraceptives at all. Again these are the findings of the study. And the reality may differ for women around the world. More is still to be seen and understood.
Effect of Estrogen and Asthma
Experts tell that hormonal changes do have some effect on allergy (mast) cells. This is why women in puberty, pregnancy and menstrual cycle are more vulnerable to allergic reactions. It is thus not hard to believe why they are also more susceptible to asthmatic attacks in this duration.
Also, the incidence of getting asthma increases for females after puberty. The reason is the estrogen hormone. It has a major impact on the mast cells. So, the immune system response changes when it detects a threat to the body. The immune cells that cause asthma and allergies activate due to estrogen misbalance.
Then women who take birth control pills may also encounter a reduced risk of asthma. This is truer in case if you continue with oral contraceptives for a longer time. So, if you take it for years together, then breathing issues may not affect you at all. This is only when there is a direct link between estrogen and respiratory ailments.
Asthma in Boys and Girls Who Reach Puberty
Asthma affects boys more than girls in childhood. However, the trend is reversed during puberty. The risk for respiratory issues increases for girls once they reach puberty. And the risk for breathing problems decreases for boys on hitting puberty. The symptoms of asthma are also higher for girls than boys after puberty.
Experts say that estrogen is possibly the reason behind this event. In the study, the male to female switch in asthma was observed. And the following was the result:
- As puberty score increases in females, the symptom scores increase at 10 years of age
- As puberty score increases in males, the symptoms of asthma decrease by the age of 14
But it is too soon to draw a clear connection between puberty, gender, and asthma. Researchers may want to investigate the matter further. More pooling of data is especially necessary for boys and girls in childhood. Once the hormones and their effect are clear, the role of hormonal contraceptives will also get clearer.
Other experts think that they do not understand much how estrogen may affect asthma. Though there is sufficient observation in the last ten years, that is not all. Asthma is a complex condition, where several factors come to play. So, a greater number of studies are perhaps underway.
Looking at it from only a frontier may limit the understanding of what affects the larger population. The current asthma treatment also does not include any hormone-based therapy. The treatment in turn is according to the severity of symptoms.
Current Treatment Options for Asthma
Presently, the treatment for asthma includes medicines with inhaled corticosteroids. The doctor may even prescribe inhaled bronchodilators. For those with serious respiratory problems, injecting medicine (biology) helps the immune system to get over asthma. But there is no treatment involving hormones.
So, there is a lot more to know about the link between female endogenous hormones and asthma. However, the hormones in question can affect the onset or severity of this health condition. Researchers say that it is too soon to oversimplify the understanding of asthma.
It is a complex and heterogeneous condition. So, exploring only a single point of view as to what control asthma, is wrong. A greater number of studies are the need of the day. This will help know which other factors regulate and overcome respiratory ailments. A diverse cohort population is yet to be considered for this matter.
Further Investigations on Hormonal Contraceptives
There is a consensus between researchers to have further investigations on hormonal contraceptives. More number of clinical trials can elucidate the relationship between birth controls pills and the influence of asthma. This can give a better outlook if performed in a controlled setting.
But it is hard to say if any soon such arrangement will be done or not. It is possible in the future the effect of hormone therapies is studied to reduce asthma. But the current treatment plans are safer. Hormonal contraceptives are safe. But they do have a few side effects.
More amount of evidence is necessary to organize research in a large population for further findings. So, until then, we can say it is best to assume that estrogen has a significant impact on asthma. But if hormone therapy can work for respiratory issues is not yet clear.
To even study the possibility of birth control pills for asthma patients, one has to keep in mind the adverse effects as well. Hormonal treatments can increase the risk of weight gain, mood swings, and blood clots. These are contraindications for asthma. Thus, hormones for treating asthma are what experts are not keen to investigate any soon.
To Sum it Up
Birth control pills have several health benefits. They reduce menstruation pain, manage premenstrual syndrome, give lighter periods and respite from endometriosis, improve acne, regulate the menstrual cycle, and more. Now, it is also possible that hormones from the pills can lower the risk of asthma.
Recent research has come up with the effects of estrogen from oral contraceptives on breathing issues. And it is interesting to see how this hormone reduces the severity of asthma symptoms in women of reproductive age. How far the use of birth control pills is valid for diminishing the asthma effect is yet to be explored deeply.
But down the line, we can expect a greater number of studies in this respect. Maybe then it is easier to link the positive impact of birth control pills on asthma. Till then it is advisable to continue with the existing medications and treatment for this health condition.
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