Birth Control Pills and Voice

The classic literature on voice disorders considers birth-control-pills as a risk factor. This view is based on reports of adverse androgenic effects (i.e., virilization) dated in the 1960's and 1970's. Since then, voice professionals often advise women, and especially professional voice-users, against the use of oral contraceptives. However, a series of recent studies (Amir et al. 2002, 2003a,b) has demonstrated that this traditional view should be re-evaluated. In these studies, modern low-dose monophasic birth-control-pills were shown to have no adverse effect on voice quality. In contrast, voice quality, as reflected by specific acoustic parameters, was found to improve among young women who use the pill. The purpose of the present study was to extend our knowledge on the effect of oral contraceptives on voice, by comparing different categories of birth-control-pills. Three types of pills were included, arranged according to their progestin content: drospirenone (3mg), desogestrel (0.15mg) and gestodene (0.075mg). Accordingly, three groups of women, with no professional voice background, who use the pill, were compared: a) ten women who use Yasmin ® , b) nine women who use Microdiol ® or Mercilon ® , and c) ten women who use Gynera ® , Harmonet ® , Meliane ® or Minolet ®. In addition, a fourth group of nine women who do not use the pill was included, as a control group. All women in each of the three pill-groups were recorded twice. One recording was conducted after ten days of taking the pill, at the time hormones are at a steady state in the plasma ("On" condition). The other recording was conducted during the first three days of menses, when no pills are taken (" Off " condition). The control group was recorded once, in the " Off " condition, since the " On " condition was not applicable for