Birth control I might need one Archives

Do Birth Control Pills Cause Depression?

01/05/2023/by Mikko Veräjänkorva

The birth control pill has been around for decades. During this time, there have been countless reports from women saying they’ve become depressed after starting on the pill. Do birth control pills cause depression?

Depression in this case does not mean a passing sadness

Several studies have been made about the possible connection. It is important to note that depression in this case does not mean a passing sadness, but a long-term mood disorder with persistent anxiety, irritability, fatigue and other symptoms.

In other words, serious stuff. Something that you would make you consider twice about going on birth control or not.

Studies were not made with the highest of scientific standards

These studies never found a definitive association but anectodal evidence has been persistent. A recent review of this body of work has however revealed that many, if not all, of the studies were not made with the highest of scientific standards.

This means we can not say that there is no connection between the depression and the pills. That’s the confusing way to say: We can’t be sure.

Indeed, there is an increased risk of depression

Then in 2016 a high-quality study was published. It covered over a million Danish women between the ages of 15-34 and came to the ground-breaking conclusion that indeed, there is an increased risk of depression linked to hormonal contraception. This didn’t just mean pills, but all kinds of methods that relied on hormones.

The results of the study are important and here’s what you should know about them:

Elevated risk for developing depression was associated with all types of hormonal contraception, incl. IUD.
The risk to develop depression was 7% higher among contraceptives users vs. non-users.
A higher risk was associated with the progesterone-only treatments, with teens aged 15-19 and especially with non-oral methods.
Risk peaked after 6 months of contraceptive use.
The relative risks generally decreased with increasing age.
IUD has been claimed not to have an effect on the rest of the body. This was proven to be false.

Do Birth Control Pills Cause Depression?

So what does it all mean? Should you give up the pill or not even start?

While the connection between hormonal contraception and higher risk of depression has now been proven for the first time, it does not mean all hormonal contraceptives would be bad. It does not even prove hormonal contraception causes depression – just that there is a connection.

Birth control may even decrease chances of depression

We actually know very little about the mechanisms behind why some women developed depression during the study while others didn’t. In fact, birth control may even decrease chances of depression by improving mood swings, as also many women have reported.

Every medication has side effects and risks, and it is important to understand how big these risks are. In this case the study concluded that 2.2 women on hormonal birth control out of 100 had started to use anti-depressants. The women not on birth control? 1.7 out of 100.

7% higher risk

Anti-depressant use doesn’t mean a clinical diagnosis of depression. To receive an actual diagnosis the odds were 0.3 (users) vs. 0.28 (non-users). For the maths oriented out there, that means a 7% higher risk.

So, do birth control pills cause depression? Several experts have highlighted that there is no need for alarm and that pills can be taken as normal. If you are still experiencing symptoms of depression, do speak with your doctor to get to the bottom of them!

Birth Control Pills: 6 Common Side Effects

12/04/2023/by Mikko Törmä

Birth control pills are highly effective when taken according to prescription. However, like any medication, birth control pills too come with possible side effects. Knowing the birth control pills side effects will help diagnose any problems that may occur after taking the pill.

What then are birth control pill side effects? Here are a few common adverse reactions that women on pills or considering taking the pills should be aware of. Please note that you should consult your doctor if any of the side effects are prolonged or severe.

1 Nausea

Nausea is one of the most common birth control pill side effects. It occurs occasionally with the intake of the pill. To avoid nausea, the pill can be taken after eating dinner or before bedtime. The symptoms usually subside after 2-3 months.

2. Depression

Birth control pills contain synthetic hormones which can have a direct effect on neurotransmitters and may cause an imbalance. This may lead to depression. However, there are several factors that can cause depression and therefore it is important to determine the real cause before passing it off as a side effect of the pill! Read our comprehensive article on do birth control pills cause depression.

3. Sore or Enlarged Breasts

The pill contains a high dose of estrogen which is a hormone that is most associated with bloating. This may cause your breasts to appear enlarged. Some women even experience breast soreness and tenderness after consuming the pill. However, these are mild hormone changes caused by intake of estrogen and should not lead to any serious health concerns.

[poll id=”17″]

4. Acne

There are several types of birth control pills with a combination of synthetic hormones. Some pills lower the androgen levels and are known to actually decrease the chances of severe acne. At the same time there are pills that contain progestin, which is androgen-based. These pills are known to trigger acne and breakouts on the skin.

5. Headache

While headaches can occur due to stress and lack of sleep among other factors, the pill can have an effect on headache too. Although it cannot cause the headache, having the pill can make headaches worse in some cases. Women who suffer from sinus and migraines must consult their doctor before taking the pill.

6. Irregular Menstrual Cycles

Women may experience spotting or light bleeding in the first few weeks of taking the pill. Birth control pill side effects may even include heavier bleeding for some women, in which case a doctor must be consulted with. For smokers it may be helpful as a first measure to avoid smoking or quit altogether. In general smoking can possibly also reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills.

What about birth control pills and weight gain? While many women swear they’ve gained weight because of the pill, research does not fully support this view. We’ve written more about do birth control pills make you fat.

Birth control pills can even have other side -effects like yeast infection, blood clots, and infertility in some very extreme cases. It is important to note that any peculiar health issues must be reported to a health professional immediately to avoid any future concerns.

But it’s not all gloomy. Besides from the obvious use to prevent unwanted pregnancy, birth control pills have been discovered to also provide positive side effects. These include easing PMS mood swings, less painful periods, less menstrual migraines and protection against some cancer types (endometrial and ovarian cancer).

Birth Control Pill Side Effects You Should Know About

17/08/2022/by Mikko Törmä

If you are taking birth control pills, it is right that you know the side effects that might come with them so that you can recognize them early. If you experience some of these uncomfortable birth control pill side effects, you can switch to another pill or another form of contraception as recommended by your doctor.

Common Birth Control Pill Side Effects

These are some of the effects associated with taking birth control pills:

1. Intermenstrual Spotting

Vaginal bleeding is one of the common birth control pill side effects. It affects around half the women who use the pill. The bleeding mainly occurs within the first three months of taking the birth control pill, and it occurs between menstrual periods.

Spotting is usually caused by the body adjusting to the new hormonal environment. For 90 percent of women, the intermenstrual spotting stops by the end of the third month. However, for others, it might take longer.

The pill is always active even when you are experiencing these side effects as long as you observe the correct schedule. You should seek medical advice in case of heavy bleeding for more than two days or normal bleeding for more than four days.

2. Nausea

Nausea is also another common symptom that occurs during the initial days of taking the pill. For most people, nausea ends after a while. Check out some great tricks to avoid nausea below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/By5c1-hhoWX/

The key to preventing unwanted side effects is to be consistent with pill-taking. There are a number of solutions to help in this regard, from reminder apps to more sophisticated pill reminder devices.

3. Fluid retention

Taking birth control pills causes some people to experience a slight weight gain due to their cells retaining fluids. The estrogen found in the contraceptives might cause the enlargement of fat cells causing them to retain more water. However, just like with many other side effects, this symptom is short lived, and many women regain their normal weight after 2 to 3 months.

Note that serious weight gain is not one of the birth control pill side effects. Various scientific studies have come out to disprove this myth.

4. Mood changes

Mood changes when using birth control pills can occur especially in people with a history of mental disorders such as depression. The pill might cause people to experience emotional changes. Therefore, people with a history of mental health problems should discuss this with their doctor.

5. Missed periods

At times, you might miss your period even when you are on the pill. This can result from other factors such as stress, hormonal abnormalities or illness. You should, however, ensure that you take a pregnancy test if you have been engaging in sexual intercourse to confirm that you are not pregnant.

If you continue to miss your periods, then you should seek medical advice.

6. Decreased sex drive

The hormones contained in birth control pills can affect some people’s sex drive. It is, however, difficult to ascertain if ones decreased libido is a birth control pill side effect since other factors can also cause the symptom.

Uncommon side effects

Other birth control pill side effects are less common but might be a serious hazard to your health. These include:

Blurred vision
Headaches
Abdominal pain
Swelling in the legs

In case you experience such symptoms, you should seek medical advice. They may be a pointer to a more serious problem such as liver disease or heart disease.

Do Birth Control Pills Cause Depression?

Do Birth Control Pills Cause Depression?

Related articles

Morning After Pill And Its Options

6 Effective Ways to Remember the Birth Control Pill

Missed, Forgotten Or Late Birth Control Pill – Effects and Remedy?

Birth Control Pills: 6 Common Side Effects

Related articles

Morning After Pill And Its Options

6 Effective Ways to Remember the Birth Control Pill

Missed, Forgotten Or Late Birth Control Pill – Effects and Remedy?

Birth Control Pill Side Effects You Should Know About

Common Birth Control Pill Side Effects

1. Intermenstrual Spotting

2. Nausea

3. Fluid retention

4. Mood changes

5. Missed periods

6. Decreased sex drive

Uncommon side effects

Related articles

Morning After Pill And Its Options

6 Effective Ways to Remember the Birth Control Pill

Missed, Forgotten Or Late Birth Control Pill – Effects and Remedy?