2023-06-12 22:07:37
Women using combined contraceptive pills have a increased risk of developing depression than women who do not use them since.
According to a new study from Uppsala University, birth control pills increase women’s risk of depression by a 73% during the first two years of use.
The possibility that birth control pills may have negative effects on mental health and even lead to depression. Although many women choose to stop using birth control pills because of the influence they have on their mood, the picture emerging from the research so far has not been clear. This study is one of the largest and most far-reaching to date, following more than a quarter of a million women in the UK Biobank from birth to menopause.
The researchers collected data on the women’s use of birth control pills, when they were first diagnosed with depression, and when they first experienced symptoms of depression without receiving a diagnosis.
The contraceptive method studied was the combined birth control pillsthat contain progestogen, a compound similar to the hormone progesterone, and estrogen. Progestogen prevents ovulation and thickens cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the uterus, while estrogen thins the uterine lining to make implantation of a uterus more difficult. fertilized egg.
“Although contraception has many advantages for women, both doctors and patients need to be informed about the identified side effects in this and previous research,” says Therese Johansson, from Uppsala University’s Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, one of the principal investigators.
According to the study, women who started using birth control pills cwhen they were teenagers had a 130% higher incidence of depressive symptoms, while the corresponding increase among adult users was 92%
“The powerful influence of birth control pills on adolescents can be attributed to the hormonal changes caused by puberty. As women in that age group have already undergone substantial hormonal changes, they may be more receptive not only to hormonal changes but also to other life experiences,” says Johansson.
The researchers were also able to see that the increased incidence of depression decreased when the women continued to use birth control pills after the first two years. However, adolescent birth control pill users still had a higher incidence of depression. even after stopping the pillwhich was not observed in adult users of birth control pills.
“It is important to emphasize that most women tolerate external hormones well, without experiencing negative effects on their mood, so combined contraceptive pills are an excellent option for many women as they prevent unplanned pregnancies and can also prevent diseases that affect women, such as ovarian cancer and uterine cancer. However, certain women may be at increased risk of depression after starting birth control pills,” the researchers state.
The study findings point to the need for healthcare professionals to be more aware of potential links between different body systems, such as depression and birth control pill use. The researchers conclude that it is important for care providers to inform women considering birth control pills about the potential risk of depression as a side effect of the medication.
“Since we only investigated combination birth control pills in this study, we cannot draw any conclusions about other birth control optionssuch as mini-pills, birth control patches, hormonal coils, vaginal rings, or birth control rods,” says Johansson.
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