Contraception and Depression

In this article, the nonprofit Power to Decide provides information to consider if we’re concerned about the effect of hormonal contraceptives on our mental health and mood. Some people report feeling no change in their mood from using hormonal contraception, while others state that hormonal contraceptives contributed to depression.

Hormonal contraceptive methods work by changing our body’s hormone levels. Some hormonal contraception contains progestin alone, while other kinds have both progestin and estrogen. Along with their effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, hormonal contraceptives can have beneficial side effects. They can help alleviate heavy menstrual bleeding and they may reduce anxiety and depression.

We should pay attention to how hormonal contraceptives make us feel. If we’re feeling tired, have a loss of interest in activities and hobbies, experience feelings of intense sadness, and have a change in appetite for more than two weeks, we should consult with a medical provider.

Fortunately, there are many different types of contraceptives, including options that are hormone-free. With the guidance of our medical providers, we can determine what contraceptive method works best for our own bodies.

Some research has found links between hormonal contraceptives and depression. But that doesn’t mean that everyone—or even most people—using hormonal birth control will have new or worsening depression or experience depressive symptoms due to birth control. Overall, it seems that both adults and young people report either no change or a slightly more positive mood after starting the pill.

SOURCE: Power to Decide • AUTHOR: Maggi LeDuc • LAST UPDATED: August 15, 2022