Women who use combined birth control pills have a higher risk of developing depression than those who don’t, according to a new study from Uppsala University in Sweden.
- According to a new study, women who used combined birth control pills are at a greater risk of developing depression than those who don’t.
- Women who started using it as teenagers have a 130% higher incidence of symptoms of depression.
- For the researchers, although the contraceptive pill has many advantages, practitioners and patients must be informed of the identified side effects.
The pill is the most widely used method of contraception in France. However, its number of users has tended to decrease for several years given the fears and mistrust aroused by hormonal treatment, such as weight gain or an increased risk of thrombosis. A new study from Uppsala University in Sweden adds a new concern: the combined pill would increase the risk of suffering from depression.
Depression : teenage girls who take a combination pill have more risk
Researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden took the data from the cohort UK Biobankwhich followed more than 260,000 women to assess the effects of the contraceptive pill. The results showed that patients who took combined contraceptive pills (containing progestogen and estrogen) were 73% more likely to suffer from depression during the first two years of use. The incidence of depressive symptoms climbed to 130% if they had started taking it in adolescence (compared to 93% in adulthood).
The scientists were also able to see that the increased incidence of depression decreased after two years of using the birth control pill. However, young girls still had an increased risk of having depressive symptoms even after stopping contraceptive treatment, unlike adult users.
“It is important to emphasize that most women tolerate external hormones well, without experiencing negative effects on their mood. Combined birth control pills are therefore an excellent option for many women. (…). However, some may have an increased risk of depression after starting to use birth control pills.”explain Therese Johansson from the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University and who worked on the study published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric ScienceJune 12, 2023.
Contraceptive pill: better inform patients about side effects
The results of this study are clear: healthcare professionals need to be more aware of the possible links between depression and the use of birth control pills. For the team responsible for this work, it is therefore necessary to inform patients of the possible side effects of their contraception before starting treatment. Additionally, women should be encouraged to see their doctor if they experience symptoms of depression after starting birth control pills.
“Because we only studied combined contraceptive pills in this study, we cannot draw conclusions about other contraceptive options, such as mini-pills, contraceptive patches, vaginal rings… In In a future study, we plan to look at different formulations and delivery methods. Our ambition in comparing different contraceptive methods is to give women even more information to help them make informed decisions about their contraceptive options.”warns the researcher in a communicated.
