Do birth control pills change how muscles grow with exercise?
Second‐Generation Oral Contraceptive Use Is Associated With Greater Muscle Hypertrophy Following Resistance Training
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
This study looked at whether young women who take a certain kind of birth control pill build more muscle when they lift weights compared to those who don’t.
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 538 / 72
Evidence Score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
This study looked at whether young women who take a certain kind of birth control pill build more muscle when they lift weights compared to those who don’t.
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 538 / 72
Evidence Score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Publication
Authors
Holm MR, Holtvedt H, Hansen M, Paulsen G, Seynnes O
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Claims (2)
Even though birth control pills might help women build more muscle during training, they don’t actually get stronger than women not on the pill — so bigger muscles don’t always mean more strength.
Women who take certain birth control pills might build more muscle during weight training than those who don’t, especially in their arms and legs.