Can birth control cause depression anxiety?

Are you a female who is currently on birth control? If so, have you been feeling down or anxious lately? You might be wondering if birth control could be the culprit of these negative feelings. Fear not, as we delve into this topic with both humor and scientific insights.

Let’s Talk Hormones

First things first, let’s talk hormones. Hormonal fluctuations can undoubtedly affect our moods and emotions. This fact explains why many women experience mood swings when approaching their menstrual cycle. It also explains why some females feel more anxiety, stress, or sadness during pregnancy (hello hormones!)

So what about hormonal contraceptives such as birth control pills? They work to prevent pregnancy by altering hormone levels in a woman’s body through pharmaceutically active compounds.

What that means for us is that hormonal contraception; manipulate estrogen and progesterone levels to inhibit ovulation (release of an egg from ovaries) which alters hormone levels in your body.

Simply put, contraceptive pills interfere with natural fluctuation of hormones in your body, no wonder there are sometimes adverse reactions to using them.\

But wait! Here are potential pros!

It’s worth noting here that while hormonal contraceptives may cause mood changes due to changing hormone levels, they often come equipped with benefits like reducing acne, pain from endometriosis or fibroids –a noncancerous growth–, heavy periods…and obviously avoid unwanted pregnancies which should definitely stop all types of anxieties.

Types Of Contraceptive Pills

There are various kinds of contraceptives available today ranging from estrogen-containing combination oral contraceptive pill (COCP), progestin-only mini-pills/transdermal patches/injectables/implantsand IUDs intrauterine devices Sometimes certain types may ultimately lead to lower risks than others depending on lifestyle factors:

  • For women over 35 years old who smoke, progestin-only forms of contraception can cause a higher risk of blood clots than estrogen-containing pills
  • Women with high blood pressure or other chronic conditions may need to be on lower hormone dosages
    Your prescribing doctor understands and will give advise

Linking Hormonal Contraception To Depression Anxiety

Now that we understand how hormonal contraceptives work, let’s talk about the link between birth control and depression/anxiety.

Studies have shown mixed results regarding this topic. Some studies indicate no significant difference in depression or anxiety rates among women taking hormonal contraceptives versus those who are not.
However, some studies suggest otherwise; linking these symptoms to various types of hormonal contraceptives.

What does this mean?

It boils down to individual body chemistry. Responses vary based on whether the contraceptive type ‘marries’ your body systems’ unique sensitivities .So it would be best if you kept an eye out for any changes while using new birth controls. If you feel depressed or anxious after starting on a particular pill/implant/IUD/injection patch…you should notify your doctor immediately!s they may recommend alternative solutions; which leads us right into our next segment:

What To Do Next: Practical Advice

You’ve recognized potential symptoms related to using certain hormonal contraceptives – feelings of sadness, low energy levels etc–This could also potentially happen by avoiding contraceptive altogether.( Unintended pregnancies could lead to differing levels of increased stress!)

How do we handle these situations?

1.Seek professional medical help from involved gynecologists/general practitioners.Of course,caveat being that physical disease factors contributing such moods ie thyroid disorders so start there)

2.Alternative medications That meet needs!

3.Change In Lifestyle where possible ie adequate sleep/exercise/nutrient intake- This won’t hurt either/

4.Consider therapy sessions –Modern day struggles surpasses the need for talking to someone about life’s dealings!

5.Come off all hormonal birth control (But weigh availability of alternatives against your distressing symptoms)

DO NOT self-prescribe

It is important to remember that depression/anxiety are serious conditions that require specialized help from a registered medical professional(s). Therefore, you should not treat yourself based on internet searches and/or hearsays—with weighty emotional concerns you would want the best advice from specialists.

Conclusion

Birth control can cause mood changes in some women. Some men too have reported depression-like moods while on hormone-suppression drugs used as part of prostate cancer treatment plan.If experiencing sudden bouts of sadness, lethargy or anxiety after starting contraceptive pills/implants/IUDs/injections or noticing significant change with non-hormonal forms Too,it’s advisable seek out personalized doctor consultations when possible instead of relying solely on google search results etc..

As always don’t make hasty decisions without investigating further or finalizing alternate options rather than enduring unpleasant experiences combined with severe side effects due to drug usage without proper medication regime.

Random Posts