Does Birth Control Cause Depression?

Oct 11,2016

A Danish study reveals a link between hormonal birth control and depression. The University of Copenhagen study followed more than 1 million women and teenage girls for an average of 6.4 years to gather the data. The research reveals that women using combination birth control pills (containing both estrogen and progestin) were 23% more likely to be prescribed antidepressants than women not on hormonal birth control. That percentage jumps to 34% for those using a progestin-only pill.

Other forms of hormonal birth control present an even higher risk for depression than the pill. Women with a progestin-only IUD are 40% more likely to have antidepressant prescriptions. For women with a vaginal ring, the percentage rises to 60%, and those with a patch are actually 100% more likely to have an antidepressant prescription.

The findings suggest that the synthetic hormone progestin can play a role in the development of depression. They also confirm that teenage girls are one of the highest groups at risk—those on progestin-only birth control pills were 120% more likely to be prescribed an antidepressant than their peers who were not on hormonal birth control.

“Women need to be informed of these serious risks before they decide whether or not to use hormonal birth control,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

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DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.