Can Birth Control Cause Depression?

Millions of women use oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancies. Do these meds have a negative impact on mental health? Can birth control cause depression?

Contact Time Wellness Centers today to learn more about our depression treatment in Atlanta, GA.

Can Birth Control Cause Depression?

Experts have not yet found a definitive yes-or-no answer to the question, “can birth control cause depression?” However, several studies have found associations between depression symptoms and oral contraceptive (OC) use among women of various ages.

Oral Contraception and Depression Among Teens and Young Women

In October 2019, JAMA Psychiatry published a study from The Netherlands that investigated the link between oral contraceptive use and depression among adolescents and young women.

Features and findings from that study included:

• The study team analyzed data from 1010 participants ages 16-25. The data had been collected from 2005-2016 as part of the Tracking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS).
• Overall, there was no significant difference in rates of depression between women who used oral contraception and those who didn’t.
• However, when broken down by age, the data revealed that 16-year-olds who used OC were more likely to be depressed than others of the same age who didn’t use the medication.

“This age-specific vulnerability is complex and likely bidirectional,” the team reported. 

“Important emotion-related regions of the brain, such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus, are still maturing during adolescence,” they added, “and therefore may be particularly sensitive to sex hormone–related changes at age 16 years.”

Birth Control, Stress Reactivity, and Depression

A study from Canada that was published in August 2020 by the journal Hormones and Behavior looked at the effects of birth control on brain structure and function, primarily related to stress reactivity. 

Stress reactivity describes the body’s physiological responses to threats and other stressors, such as changes in heart rate and production of cortisol, a hormone that eases stress. Experts believe that poor stress reactivity may be a consequence of depression, as well as a biomarker for the condition.

After using the Trier Social Stress Test and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess 215 participants ages 18-26, the Canadian research team reported that:

• Oral birth control use has been linked with blunted stress reactivity, region-specific changes in grey matter volume, and decreases in both white matter and cortical thickness.
• Structural and functional brain changes related to OC use may increase the risk of stress-related disorders, namely depression.
• Hormonal fluctuations during puberty and the premenstrual period can also increase the risk of depression.

“OC use induces changes to brain structure and function and alters stress reactivity,” the researchers wrote. “These findings may provide a mechanistic insight for the increased vulnerability to mood-related mental illness in women after OC use.”

Depression Risk After Starting to Take Birth Control

A June 2023 cohort study in the journal Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences found that women may have an elevated risk of depression shortly after they begin to use oral contraception.

A research team from Uppsala (Sweden) University reached this conclusion after analyzing data from 264,557 women in the UK Biobank. Their findings included:

• Using birth control during adolescence may increase a woman’s risk of depression later in their life.
• Women who had been using oral contraceptives for two years or less had higher rates of depression than women who never used the medication.
• After the initial two years, the gap narrowed, but women who used oral birth control still had a higher lifetime risk of depression.

“Our findings support that OC use is causally associated with an increased risk of depression in adolescents as well as in adults, especially shortly after the initiation,” the researchers reported.

What Are the Symptoms of Depression?

Whether related to birth control use or other factors, depression can have a devastating impact on virtually every part of a person’s life. But before someone can get help, they need to realize that they may have a mental health disorder.

Common symptoms of depression include:

• Persistent low mood
• Fatigue and listlessness
• Agitation and restlessness
• Lack of motivation
• Diminished confidence and self-esteem
• Difficulty focusing, concentrating, and making decisions
• Abnormal sleep patterns (insomnia or hypersomnia)
• Significant appetite change and resultant weight gain or loss
• Recurring thoughts of death and dying
• Loss of interest in important activities
• Pervasive sense of worthlessness
• Loss of hope for the future

Once a person suspects that they have depression, the ideal first step is to schedule an evaluation with their doctor or a reputable mental health treatment provider in their area. In addition to making a psychological diagnosis, the professional who conducts this evaluation should also be able to recommend appropriate treatment options.

How Is Depression Treated?

Personalization can be an essential feature of an effective depression treatment plan. This means that beneficial care can look quite different from one person to another, depending on factors such as:

• The nature and severity of their symptoms
• How long they’ve been experiencing these symptoms
• How these symptoms have impacted their life
• If they have any co-occurring mental health concerns
• If they have been abusing alcohol or other drugs
• The quality of their personal support network
• Their physical health

Levels of Care

Once a depression treatment provider has assessed the information listed above, one of their first actions will be to determine which level or levels of care are best for the client.

Options in this area include:

• Detoxification (if they have a co-occurring addiction)
• Inpatient/residential treatment
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
• Outpatient counseling

Some people may only need to receive care at one of these levels, while others may be best served by spending time at several or all of them. There’s no right or wrong path. All that matters is determining which programs are best for the individual.

Types of Treatment

Depending on the client’s unique needs, as well as which level of care they are in, their treatment may involve elements such as:

• Antidepressants (depression medication)
• Individual psychotherapy
• Process and psychoeducational groups
• Family therapy and support
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
• Life skills education
• Yoga, art, music, and other holistic therapies

Find Depression Treatment in Atlanta

If you have been experiencing depression symptoms related to birth control use or for any reason, Time Wellness of Georgia is here for you.

At our outpatient center in Atlanta, GA, treatment options include a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), an evening IOP for adolescents, and virtual treatment. We’ll work closely with you to identify the full scope of your needs, then recommend the programs and services that can best prepare you for a healthier and more satisfying future.

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.