Reduced threat avoidance but increased stress induced approach bias in women taking oral contraceptives.

Recent research has increasingly acknowledged the impact of oral contraceptives on affective behavior and stress responses; however, the underlying mechanisms are still not well understood. Studies have previously shown that steroid hormones modulate automatic approach and avoidance behavior. Here, we thus investigated the effects of oral contraceptives on approach and avoidance behavior and whether these effects are modulated by stress.