Contraception Can Increase Risk of Depression in Up to 10% of Women Taking It

Taking contraception might have some negative side effects on some women's mental health.

Contraception Increases Risk of Depression

Many women take contraception to avoid getting pregnant for different reasons --probably to control childbirth, avoid getting pregnant, or for some health reasons. While contraceptives work, one study discovered that 1 in 10 women experiences an increase in their risk of depression.

Apparently, hormonal contraceptives have some effects on the brain.

The ovarian hormone levels are synchronized by the brain, more especially by the hypothalamus. Despite being referred to as "ovarian hormones," progesterone and estrogen receptors are found all across the brain.

Progesterone and estrogen affect neurons and cellular functions in ways unrelated to reproduction. Estrogen, for instance, is involved in mechanisms that regulate memory formation and shield the brain from harm. Progesterone facilitates emotional control.

Hormonal contraceptives have the potential to modify mood, either positively or negatively, by altering the amounts of these hormones in the body and brain.

Progesterone and estrogen also control the stress response, the body's "fight-or-flight" response to psychological or physical stress.

The primary hormone responsible for inducing stress response is cortisol in humans and corticosterone in rats, both shortened to CORT. CORT is essentially a metabolic hormone, which means that elevating these hormone levels in the blood during stressful situations causes a greater release of energy from fat reserves.

Given how vital energy control is during pregnancy, the relationship between stress systems and reproductive hormones is a key component of the mood-hormone contraceptive relationship.

Women who use hormone contraceptives exhibit a lower increase in CORT than those who do not when exposed to mild stressors.

Hormonal contraceptives' effects vary from person to person. In most people, it does not increase the risk of depression.

ALSO READ: Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills Cause Negative Mental Side Effects in Women That Are 'Rarely Addressed' [Study]

Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills Have Negative Mental Side Effects in Women

Aside from depression, another study found that combined oral contraceptive (COC) pills have negative mental side effects on women. It could reportedly impair their fear regulation regions.

Scientists at the University of Quebec in Montreal investigated a group of women who were now using combination contraceptives, had previously used them but had discontinued, or had never used them. The subjects of the study also included men.

Although scientists had previously discovered that differing sex hormones impact fear processing in the brain, they discovered that women using the combination pill had a narrower ventromedial prefrontal cortex than men. This region of the brain is related to emotional responses, decision-making, and self-control.

There are some negative consequences associated with the contraceptive pill. Women are usually informed by their doctor about several possible physical side effects before starting the pill. However, according to Alexandra Brouillard, a researcher at Université du Québec à Montréal and the study's first author, adverse effects on mental health and changes in brain development are "rarely addressed."

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