Does pregnancy or use of contraceptives influence adult facial changes?

Aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that documented differences between males and females in adult facial changes are caused by pregnancy or the use of contraceptives.

Cephalograms were obtained of 96 females and 38 males (mean age 21.8 years and 22.4 years respectively), T1. The second cephalogram was taken 10.3 and 10.6 years later (T2). The subjects had not undergone orthodontic treatment or surgery during the observation period. Information on the number of births and use of oral contraceptives was available for each female, and they were divided into groups according to use (CP) or non-use (NCP) of contraceptive pills, and number of children born.

The linear hard tissue changes were relatively small, none exceeding 2 mm. The S-N line increased in all groups - more in females than in males, with the greatest change in the women with three children group. The parameter Cd-Prgn increased more in males than in females. The angles SNA and SNB increased in the males and decreased in the females. The other angles decreased in males, while the changes were more variable in the females. The soft tissue changes varied greatly. Few of the differences between males and females were statistical significant.

Few of the differences between adult males and females in facial changes are caused by pregnancies or the use of oral contraceptives.