Sad woman with depression

We’ve always been told of a few of the risks that might be associated with taking the birth control pill. For some of us it’s that extra five or 10 pounds we can’t get rid of; for others, we’ve felt not quite “right.” While it’s much easier to dress in clothes that make you feel great, elevating your mood isn’t always as easy as doing some Pinterest-worthy DIY. Now, we’re getting word that, in fact, your birth control pill can have a direct impact on your mood.

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According to a recent Danish study, oral hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills) have a direct link to depression. In the past, there was only anecdotal evidence that suggested this, as no one had been able to do a study of this kind. Many women simply get off the pill before being able to pinpoint it as a cause of their depression, and therefore don’t express their illness with their doctors.

The broad six-year study found that women who take combination pills (estrogen and progestin) were prescribed antidepressants at a rate of 23 percent of the women taking the pills. Women on progestin only pills had a rate of 34 percent. Women who use other forms of hormonal birth control (ring, hormonal IUD or shots) had even higher rates of depression, with 100 percent of the birth control patch users all being prescribed antidepressant medication.

Girl crying in bed

100 percent!!!! The authors state that they think it’s less about the delivery method and more about the amount of progestin and progesterone in these contraceptives as women on combination pills were less likely to be depressed.

They also discovered that younger women, teens especially, had higher rates than adult women on these various contraceptives. While it’s important to note that not every woman on hormonal contraceptives will be depressed, it’s definitely some food for thought.

We don’t think it’s quite time yet to scrap our preferred methods of birth control, but this study has definitely given us some food for thought.

Will this study change the way you feel about your hormonal birth control? Tell us @BritandCo!

(Photos via Getty)