Besides protecting against unplanned pregnancy and regulating periods, birth control pills apparently have another perk: They might help you avoid an ACL injury, according to a new study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
Sure, the connection sounds odd. But it makes sense when you hear the explanation: Previous research has shown that estrogen—a female hormone that spikes during puberty and fluctuates during your menstrual cycle—can weaken the collagen content and strength of the ligament that connects the top and bottom of your knee. In fact, studies have shown that female soccer players are up to 2.4 times more likely to injure their ACLs than male players.
However, according to this new study, young women with ACL injuries who take oral contraceptives (which lower and regulate estrogen levels) are 18 percent less likely to need corrective surgery than those who aren’t on the Pill.
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