Can Birth Control Help With Depression And Anxiety

What If You Already Have Depression

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization guidelines put no restrictions on the use of any type of birth control for people who have depression . The use of combined hormonal birth control, the hormonal IUD, implant, and the shot is not associated with worsening of symptoms among people with depression or bipolar disorder . One study actually showed less depressive symptoms among combined hormonal birth control users compared to people not using hormonal methods .

There arenât believed to be any interactions between SSRIs , which are commonly prescribed for depression, and hormonal contraception . The CDC puts no restriction on the use of any hormonal birth control for people who are taking SSRIs .

Other supplements and medications used for depression, such as tricyclic antidepressants, bupropion, and St. Johnâs Wort may interact with hormonal contraception .

Itâs important to speak with your healthcare provider about what supplements and medications you are taking and whether there are possible interactions with hormonal birth control.

What Are Some Options For Non

For anyone looking to prevent pregnancy without taking hormonal contraceptives, youve got plenty of options:

• Condoms: When used correctly, condoms are 98% effective , but due to human error, condoms do have a 15% failure rate at preventing pregnancy.
• Copper IUD: If youre hoping for another one-and-done contraceptive, the non-hormonal copper IUD, or ParaGard, might be the best choice for you. Its the most effective form of birth control and can last for 10 years.
• Diaphragm or cervical cap: These two barrier methods can help prevent pregnancy when combined with spermicide . Like condoms, youll need to remember to insert a diaphragm or cap every time youre going to have sex. Diaphragms are 92%-96% effective, while cervical caps are only 71%-86% effective.
• Sponge: Another barrier method, the sponge is 88% effective at preventing pregnancy and must be used every time you have sex.

So, if youre ditching your pill or removing your patch, know that your body is likely to transition back to its before state over your next few cycles. And if youre not feeling great, enlist your primary care provider , OB-GYN, some ibuprofen, or a trusty heating pad for support.

Why Does My Period Give Me Mood Swings

Mood swings can occur due to hormonal fluctuations throughout your cycle. Estrogen and progesterone drop when your body releases its egg during ovulation, and this can impact your serotonin levels, which play a role in your emotional and mental health.

Different people have different sensitivities to hormonal fluctuation and levels of serotonin, so some may experience more severe mood swings than others.

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When To See A Doctor About Anxiety After Stopping Hormonal Birth Control

You should see a doctor if your anxiety lasts for longer than a few months after stopping hormonal contraceptives, if lifestyle measures do not ease your symptoms, or if your anxiety is severe enough to interfere with normal daily activities.

Your doctor will assess your health and symptoms and suggest treatment options like self-help strategies, medication, or talking therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy . They might also refer you to a psychiatrist.

How Much Does It Cost

Money matters, so remember to factor in the cost of the medication or device and any related doctors appointments.

Remember, you may have options to help you get your birth control for a lot less or even free, depending on:

• if you have health insurance
• if you qualify for Medicaid or another government program

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Can Birth Control Make Depression Worse

Recent studies indicate that women who do not suffer from PMDD are at a slight risk of developing depression when taking certain hormonal forms of birth control, though this risk is fairly insignificant. Here is what has been found so far: Compared with non-users, combined oral contraceptives RR of a first use of antidepressants of 1.2 Progestin-only pills had an RR of 1.3 IUD with hormone a levonorgestrel intrauterine system, 1.4 Vaginal ring , 1.6 Transdermal patch , 2.0 Implant, 2.1 The shot medroxyprogesterone acetate depot, 2.7 TLDR the shot had the highest correlation with depression, whereas the combination pill posed the lowest risk of depression.

Birth Control And Depression

In the largest epidemiological study to date, researchers followed over one million women ages 15-34 for 13 years and found that women were more likely to be diagnosed with depression after being given the pill. In fact, women prescribed combination pills were 23% more likely to be prescribed anti-depressants.

This is concerning, but perhaps the most startling finding was that teens were 80% more likely to develop depression when prescribed the combined pill. The progestin-only pill wasnt much better, increasing teens risk 2 fold.

This was a groundbreaking study because it was the first time a study of this size showed a relationship between birth control and depression. While other studies have been unable to show a definitive association between the pill and depression, this study finally gave women a good look at the risk of birth control and depression.

Increased Suicide Risk

A more recent study has shown youngwomen who use hormonal contraceptives, including the birth control pill, the ring, IUDs and the patch have three times the risk of suicide compared to women who have never used hormonal birth control.

Epidemiological studies can have many variables that make it difficult to show cause and effect. But, these findings should give us all pause with regards to how freely hormonal contraceptives are prescribed.

Who Is at Risk for Depression on Birth Control?

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Happy Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to breaking down stigma and supporting those with mental illnesses and their loved ones. To honor the month, here are a few ways that birth control can help support your mental health and help you say #ThxBirthControl.

There are many types of birth control. How can you know which will best fit your needs? A conversation with your health care provider is essential. Here are some of the things you may want to consider:

Some Not All Methods May Require A Guardians Consent

Rather not let a parent or guardian in on your birth control? We get it.

You can get birth control in most states without a guardians consent, but not with all healthcare professionals.

Contact a local clinic or trusted healthcare professional before making an appointment to learn more about your states laws. Thanks to confidentiality laws, they cant share what you discuss.

If youre hoping to have your birth control covered by a parent or guardians health insurance, call the insurance provider first to ask if the services you access will show up on your parent or guardians statement.

Your other option is to pay out of pocket or try to access free or lower cost birth control in your area.

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Why Can Birth Control Cause Mood Swings In Some People

The way birth control tanks your mood is multifactorial. And truly, we haven’t done enough studies to understand why one woman has issues, while another is just fine. At this current time, we can’t say that birth control causes mood swings, depression or anxiety based on the current research. However, we do know there is a correlation between starting birth control and then experiencing mood symptoms.

In my naturopathic medical practice, I consider the many factors at play on an individualized basis.

Here are just a few of the issues doctors should consider.

Alternatives To Hormonal Birth Control

There are many different types of birth control. In the US, people will try five different methods throughout their lives on average. So, reevaluating and switching methods due to any side effects, including depressive symptoms, is not only okay, its normal.

Not all hormonal methods have the same hormones in them or the side effects. If someones having a negative reaction on one pill, for example, they could talk to their provider about trying an implant, the shot, or even a different brand of pill. Switching to a non-hormonal contraceptive is also an option as these methods dont have any hormone-related side effects.

Its important to remember that hormonal methods are more effective than most non-hormonal methods. If staying baby-free is the main concern, the most effective, non-hormonal methods are a non-hormonal IUD or sterilization . Other non-hormonal methods include barrier methods, such as condoms and internal , diaphragms, and spermicide, are also options as is pulling out, fertility awareness based methods, and taking a break from the types of sex that can lead to pregnancy.

Prioritizing mental health is essential. While not everyone will need to switch methods due to side effects, its important to stay on top of changes in both physical and mental health whenever beginning a new birth control.

Some folks birth control journeys experience more detours than others, but ultimately there is a method out there for everyone.

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Some womens vulnerability to anxiety and mood disorders may be explained by their estrogen levels, according to new research by Harvard and Emory University neuroscientists presented in this months issue of Biological Psychiatry.

Low estrogen levels can make women more vulnerable to trauma at some points in their menstrual cycles, while high levels of the female sex hormone can partially protect them from emotional disturbance, the research suggests. Since birth control pills affect estrogen levels, they might one day be used to help prevent post-traumatic stress.

Depression and anxiety disorders are twice as common in women as in men, but the reason for this gender difference is unclear. The new work, reviewed by Harvards Mohammed Milad and colleagues in a commentary, suggests that women are most at risk for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder when their estrogen is low during the menstrual cycle.

PTSD is a disorder of recovery, said author Milad, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and director of the Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital . Men may be less at risk because testosterone, the male sex hormone, is converted into estrogen in the male brain, and so is more stable in their brains than in womens.

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Studies Have Limitations That We Must Recognize In Medicine

One of the biggest limitations is that women who are experiencing profound or negative side effects with birth control are more likely to stop taking it. Studies seeking to compare women on and off birth control, wont necessarily account for the woman whose mood was interfering so significantly with her life that she stopped it, left the trial and cut off all communication.

These studies aim to demonstrate what the average experience is like for every woman. But when you consider that those with extreme mood symptoms are more likely to quit the studies then you have to question just what is average?

We also need to consider that many studies rely on self-reporting, which is not always completely accurate. Some women feel shame to report mood symptoms. Others figure its just par for the course.

And like many of my patients have shared with me, they didnt want to be prescribed an antidepressant or have that diagnosis in their chart So they just didnt tell their doctor.

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What Studies Show About Hormonal Contraception

As weve noted, research about birth control causing anxiety is limited. According to some studies, the use of hormonal contraception has been linked to a future depression diagnosis and the eventual use of antidepressants. This seems to be even more likely among adolescents. These findings suggest that symptoms of depression could potentially be an adverse effect of hormonal contraceptives.

Still, more work is needed before we can fully understand what and how much, if any, connection there is between hormonal birth control and anxiety.

In 2015, researchers from the University of Michigan noted theres a general lack of attention regarding mental health and family planning. They went on to say that substantial research gaps exist, preventing us from truly garnering a deep understanding of the best way to approach birth control and family planning for women already living with anxiety and depression.

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How Can Women Decrease Their Risk Of Developing Depression When Starting Birth Control

As always, its crucial that women are proactive with their health and communicate with their doctors about any concerns or emerging symptoms they may have when trying a new form of birth control. Each individuals reaction to birth control may vary, so it is normal to notice different symptoms than others who are taking the same type. Fortunately, there are 40+ different pills it may take some trial and error to find your perfect match.

The progestin-only methods, such as the minipill, IUD with hormone, implant, and shot seem to have the highest risk for depression. This is something individuals may want to keep in mind.

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What We Know So Far

As mentioned above, birth control has not been proven or disproven as a cause of depression. However, many women complain about depression as a side effect. It is crucial that we do not take these claims lightly as depression is a serious illness that must be approached with sensitivity and caution. To be dismissive could be life threatening to some. If you or anyone who may be close to you are facing these symptoms, get in touch with a specialist to help talk you through it. We need to take care of our minds in order to take care our bodies, lives and those we love.

References

What Is An Anxiety Disorder

Feeling anxious, or having anxiety, is a typical response to a stressful situation, and it can sometimes be beneficial. Anxiety alerts an individual to danger, potentially compelling them to take action to keep themselves out of harms way or remove themselves from an uncomfortable situation. But an anxiety disorder is a different matter entirely.

Someone who feels intense fear or stress about a future concern may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. They are usually characterized by avoidant behaviors and physical symptoms that interfere with a persons daily functioning. An anxiety disorder can cause someone to avoid normal situations and the symptoms can significantly interfere with a persons work, school, and personal relationships.

For a person to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, their fears must be considered out-of-proportion to the situation, not age-appropriate, and also impair the persons ability to function normally. There are many different types of anxiety disorders:

• Generalized anxiety disorder

Anxiety disorders are incredibly common and will affect up to 30% of all U.S. adults at some point in their lives. Though anxiety disorders are common and often debilitating, they are highly treatable. A combination of medication and talking therapy can go a long way to treating most cases of anxiety. Medications commonly used to treat depression, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, are also used to treat anxiety disorders.

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Avoiding Unintended Pregnancies Which Trigger More Depression

The mental and physical stress of an unintended pregnancy could trigger a new and recurrent bout of depression, including postpartum depression, Wisner added.

Women should know they always have access to many types of birth control, regardless of their history or likelihood of mental illness, Wisner said. They shouldnt feel like theyre out there flailing on how to not get pregnant.

The highest prevalence of mental illness is in women in their prime reproductive years , yet psychiatrists dont typically receive enough training in contraceptive management to properly counsel these women on the choices of birth control for them, the authors said. The study authors hope the findings will lead to better collaboration between gynecologists and psychiatrists, so they can work together to help women decide what contraceptive is best for them.

Psychiatrists should feel well versed and comfortable talking with patients about their goals for fertility, pregnancy planning and starting a family down the road, Kiley said. The default should not be, I just told her to use condoms. It should be that there are a lot of safe and effective options out there. We should also develop better communication systems between psychiatrists and gynecologists, who care for the same patients.

Contraceptive care should be viewed as preventative health, so women can make active and deliberate decisions about timing of pregnancies. Its a novel concept to some, though.