There comes a time in almost every girl’s life when she has to decide whether or not to use birth control. Whether it’s because of complaints of harsh periods, bad acne or just not wanting to get pregnant, many women decide to go on the pill.
According to a new study published in the current issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, another excellent outcome of using birth control is fewer sports injuries. Yes, you read that right. According to Refinery29, after puberty women are about two times more likely to have an ACL, or “anterior cruciate ligament” injury compared to men. That’s a nasty injury that can put you out of commission for months. It’s likely that estrogen is a key factor in the difference between men and women getting this injury. When a woman goes on birth control, the study suggests, their estrogen levels are regulated, which helps prevents injury.
Researchers looked at personal insurance claims and prescription information for 23,428 women between the ages of 15 and 39, and found that women on birth control were less likely to get serious injuries that required surgery.
So although this benefit may not be totally relevant to women who don’t participate in rigorous physical activity, it’s still great to know that birth control can keep you healthy and safe, from your ovaries to your ligaments.