Mild dieting may alter birth control hormone levels, study suggests

NCT ID NCT07651800

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study looks at how a modest daily calorie deficit of about 250 calories affects reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone in women using different types of birth control (oral pills, hormonal IUD, or non-hormonal IUD). Researchers will track 30 recreationally active women aged 18-35 over two menstrual cycles—one normal and one with the calorie deficit. The goal is to see if mild energy restriction changes hormone exposure, which could have implications for contraceptive effectiveness and overall health.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to

If successful, this study could help understand how mild calorie restriction interacts with hormonal contraceptives, potentially informing future guidelines for active women.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-stage observational study with only 30 participants, so results may not apply broadly. It does not test a treatment or intervention.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • University of Southern California Health Sciences Campus Center for Health Professions

    Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••