Is Your Birth Control Pill Causing Depression?

Is Your Birth Control Pill Causing Depression?

A new study recently confirmed women taking hormonal birth control pills are more likely to be diagnosed with depression.

The study from the University of Copenhagen looked at one million women over a 13-year-period, making it the largest study on the effects of contraceptives in history. Women taking the combined birth control pill containing estrogen and progestin had a 23% higher chance of being prescribed an antidepressant, while women on progestin-only contraceptives had a 34% higher chance than women not taking hormonal birth control. The numbers increase to 80% higher for combined pills and two times higher for progestin-only for adolescents prescribed birth control.

The study also suggests that they may be underestimating the link between birth control and depression as doctors are less likely to prescribe birth control to women already identifying as having or diagnosed with depression.

From the study, published in the Journal of American Medical Association:

"Use of hormonal contraception, especially among adolescents, was associated with subsequent use of antidepressants and a first diagnosis of depression, suggesting depression as a potential adverse effect of hormonal contraceptive use."

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Other doctors have stated more research is necessary before declaring hormonal birth control unsafe.

“There is existing clinical evidence that hormonal contraception can impact some women’s moods," said Dr Ali Kubba, a fellow of the faculty of sexual and reproductive healthcare of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. "However, from this study there is no way of linking causation, therefore further research is needed to examine depression as a potential adverse effect of hormonal contraceptive use."

If you're concerned about depression and hormonal birth control, it's important to discuss your options with your doctor so you can make an informed choice together.

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Lisa Roth Collins, RHN
Lisa Roth Collins is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) and is the Marketing Manager at NaturallySavvy.com. She is passionate about health and wellness and tries her best to make healthier choices every day for herself and her family. Her journey to natural health was driven by her own struggles with digestive discomfort, depression, and anxiety. Lisa returned to school in 2014 to study nutrition at the Canadian School for Natural Nutrition. She threw herself into her studies so she could learn as much as she could to help herself feel better and thrive. Upon completing the program and being certified as an RHN, Lisa began her work at Naturally Savvy where she has been able to help so many people learn to make healthier choices for themselves. Through her work, she has connected with so many incredible people in the industry whether other authors, influencers, or brands. Plus, she is affectionately known as "Techie Spice" because of her ability to wrap her head around technology. Every day she gets up with a renewed sense of energy and ready to make a difference. You can read all of Lisa's content here. In her spare time, Lisa loves to try new recipes, make delicious and nourishing meals, and she is an avid reader. For more information about Lisa, check out her profile on here.