Elon Musk has sparked a wave of discussion with a short but cautionary post on X, urging people to “read the box of anything you’re taking.” His comment came in response to a new scientific study on hormonal contraceptives, which suggested potential effects on brain function, emotional regulation, and memory. The research focused on how synthetic hormones may alter activity in areas of the brain linked to decision-making and emotional processing. Musk’s post amplified the study’s findings to a global audience, drawing widespread attention to the broader question of whether the long-term side effects of commonly used medications are fully understood or sufficiently communicated to the public.
Elon Musk’s warning on birth control pills and the study behind it
Musk’s post was linked to a Rice University study published in Hormones and Behavior (2025). Researchers found that hormonal contraceptives may alter activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), a brain region tied to emotion regulation, decision-making, and memory. Adolescent girls on contraceptives showed stronger emotional responses but recalled fewer details of negative experiences.The study, led by Beatriz Brandao, revealed that women on birth control processed emotions differently when using strategies such as distancing or reinterpretation. While this pattern may protect against reliving distress, it could also alter memory patterns in unexpected ways. Co-authors Bryan Denny and Stephanie Leal highlighted that reproductive hormones shape fundamental mental health processes, including stress response and resilience, and called for more research into different contraceptive types and menstrual phases.
How contraceptives may shape emotions and memory
The Rice team found that women on contraceptives tended to enhance memory for positive experiences when fully immersing themselves in them, suggesting that hormonal influences may support resilience-building. At the same time, differences in handling negative experiences raised questions about long-term behavioral effects.Earlier research supports this concern. A 2018 Frontiers in Psychology study showed that damage to the vmPFC reduces empathy, while a 2013 Psychoneuroendocrinology paper suggested that contraceptive use can influence mate preferences. More recent studies, including a 2023 paper in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, linked synthetic hormones to heightened stress and inflammation, underscoring the need for deeper investigation.
From individual health to population-wide effects
With more than 60 million women in the United States and hundreds of millions globally using hormonal birth control, even small cognitive or emotional shifts could scale into population-wide effects. Some researchers argue that these influences may extend to stress responses, social decision-making, and even political attitudes over time.However, most medical experts caution against alarmism. They emphasize that contraceptives bring significant health benefits, including preventing unintended pregnancies, regulating menstrual cycles, and reducing risks of ovarian and endometrial cancers. For the majority of women, these benefits outweigh the potential risks. What is needed, they argue, is not panic, but better research, clearer communication, and more personalized options for reproductive health.
Why Musk’s post drew global attention
Musk’s brief “read the box” post was not a direct attack on contraceptives but a reminder to be informed about any medication. Its timing, however, against the backdrop of new research, pushed the conversation into the spotlight. Supporters saw his words as a call for greater transparency in pharmaceutical science, while critics warned that influential voices risk fueling misconceptions about birth control.The debate highlights a broader challenge: how to balance recognition of contraceptive side effects with the immense social and medical value these drugs provide. Musk’s comment, simple as it was, amplified a conversation that blends science, health, and ethics, one likely to continue as more research emerges.