Birth control has been a hot issue for healthcare experts over the past decade. According to recent studies, hormonal birth control, however, can be linked to depression.
Millions of women take birth control at least once in their lifetime. There are some that are regularly using it, while others would only use it for a time being to correct their hormones. CNN reports that heathcare experts linked birth control consumption to increasing the risk of depression.
The studies, which were published in JAMA revealed that 30 percent of women stopped taking birth control pills in the United States alone as they struggle will the pill's side effect. Dr. Øjvind Lidegaard, a professor at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and lead supervisor of the study explained the rationale behind the negative effects of birth control when it comes to women's mood.
"We have known for decades that women's sex hormones estrogen and progesterone have an influence on many women's mood," Dr. Lidegaard said. "Therefore, it is not very surprising that also external artificial hormones acting in the same way and on the same centers as the natural hormones might also influence women's mood or even be responsible for depression development."
The study revealed that women taking hormonal birth control pills are bound to be at risk of depression by 40 percent in a span of six months. The researchers who took part of the study then took note of the difference of taking oral and non-oral birth control. They did note, however, the depression that hits women is not caused by birth control alone as there are other contributing factors.
"Adolescents seemed more vulnerable to this risk than women 20 to 34 years old," the researchers wrote as part of their study. "Further studies are warranted to examine depression as a potential adverse effect of hormonal contraceptive use."
Birth control protects women from unwanted pregnancies and there are those that help regulate their hormones. There are several birth control options that work for various body types, thus asking a professional healthcare provider is important before using hormonal birth control medications.
