Birth Control Decreases Risk for ACL Tear

The hormonal effects of birth control may have protective effects against connective tissue injuries.

In a new study in the “Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine”, researchers analyzed injury history of 82,874 females. Only 0.56% of subjects who were using oral contraceptives experienced an ACL tear, compared to 0.69% of subjects who were not taking birth control.

Conclusions

Factors that influence estrogen and progesterone levels, such as birth control, may have an affect on susceptibility to connective tissue injury.

References

DeFroda, S. F., Bokshan, S. L., Worobey, S., Ready, L., Daniels, A. H., & Owens, B. D. (2019). Oral contraceptives provide protection against anterior cruciate ligament tears: a national database study of 165,748 female patients. The Physician and sportsmedicine, 1-5.