The use of hormonal contraception or birth control pills is commonly used by millions of women worldwide.  It has been known for some time that birth control pills, for some women, can cause mood swings significant enough for them to stop using them.   Now a new study has found another association of a side effect of being on the pill particularly among adolescents – depression.

The University of Copenhagen researchers designed a nationwide prospective cohort study to find out whether the use of hormonal contraception was positively associated with the use of antidepressants and depression.  More than one million women ranging in age from 15 to 34 with a mean age of 24 were part of this study and were followed for 6.4 yearsThe women were grouped into two groups – users and nonusers of hormonal contraceptives.  Out of the total number of women, 55% used birth control pills.

Findings from the research revealed that women using birth control pills were more likely to have been prescribed an antidepressant during the analysis.  Results revealed that 23% of the women using a combination birth pill containing both estrogen and progestin while 34% of the women using a progestin-only pill were more likely to have been prescribed an anti-depressant than women not using birth control pills.

Hormonal birth control pills were not the only birth control method that increased the risk for depression.  In fact, other forms of hormonal birth control had even higher rates of depression when compared to women not using any hormonal contraception.  Women who used a progestin-only IUD (levonorgestrel) had a 40% increase, women using the vaginal ring (etonogestrel) had a 60% increase, while women using the patch (norgestrolmin) had a 100% increased risk for depression.

The blame appears to fall back on the hormone progesterone and the synthetic version, progestin.  When compared to birth control pills using both estrogen and progestin, the progestin-only pills and IUDs caused higher rates of depression.

Teenage girls had some of the highest rates of depression.  If a teen girl was using the combined hormonal pill they were 80% more likely to need an antidepressant while those using the progestin-only pills had a 120% increase need for a prescribed antidepressant.  Authors of the study indicated that the data suggests that adolescent girls are more sensitive than older women to the influence of hormonal contraceptive use and the possibility of increasing depression.  It’s possible that teenage girls are more vulnerable to the risk factors for depression.

The study also pointed out that more studies are needed to look into depression as a potential side effect of birth control pills.  Doctors also need to do a thorough analysis of weighing the risks and benefits before prescribing hormonal contraceptives making sure which type is suitable for each individual woman.  Teen girls and young women in particular, should be informed of the risk for depression when using this type of birth control method and to recognize the signs of it.

Depression is a common but serious mood disorder that can cause severe symptoms affecting feelings, thoughts, and how a person handles daily activities. Signs and symptoms of depression include:

·        Changes in mood – anxiety, apathy, guilt, hopelessness, loss of interest, mood swings, or sadness

·        Excess sleepiness, insomnia or restless sleep

·        Excessive hunger, fatigue, loss of appetite, or restlessness

·        Agitation, excessive crying, irritability, or social isolation

·        Lack of concentration, slowness in activity, or thoughts of suicide

·        Weight gain or loss

·        Poor appetite

Anyone who is experiencing signs and symptoms of depression should seek help from their family physician for advice on whether they need antidepressants and possible lifestyle changes that may help such as regular exercise, good social support, and stress reduction.