It has long been known that pregnancy can hasten the onset of deafness in members of certain families who have a tendency to gradual hearing loss in middle age. Known as otosclerosis, this common type of deafness is due to overgrowth of bone around the inner eardrum, which becomes rigid and unable to vibrate in response to sound.

Nowadays, otosclerosis is cured by the operation called fenestration, in which a new inner eardrum is artificially created. The latest news on this front is that oral contraceptive (OC) drugs can bring on otosclerosis. Since OCs highly resemble natural hormones that are produced during pregnancy, this is not surprising.

For this reason, the British Journal of Family Planning (9:134) suggests that, before starting on an OC, women should have hearing tests and be asked if there is deafness in the family. Those with any tendency to otosclerosis or with a family history of deafness should avoid OCs entirely.

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