The birth control pillsThey are one of the most common medications among women of childbearing age. Far from being just a method to prevent pregnancy, they are also often prescribed to regulate menstruation, reduce menstrual pain and even combat acne.
However, not everything that reduces is gold and there are many women who are raising their voices to raise awareness about the other side of the contraceptive pill. Although condoms are still the contraceptive method par excellence, in Spain 18.5% of women take the pill.
Like all medications, the pill can cause side effects in those who take it. These include nausea and headaches, but also mood swings. The alteration of hormone levels can be accompanied by a change in mood which, in the worst case, could lead to depression.
But this is not always the case. While it is true that hormonal contraceptives can increase depression, it all depends on the type of hormones and, of course, the person who uses them.
Hormones and depression
Hormones have an important influence on our mood. Patients with depression often have low levels of serotonin and endorphins, imbalances in dopamine and norepinephrine, and high levels of cortisol.
- Serotoninalso known as the happiness hormone, is responsible for causing satisfaction. It also regulates memory and sleep; many patients with depression suffer from insomnia and have difficulty retaining information.
- The body generates endorphins when you feel pleasure. Therefore, their production is closely related to feelings of well-being and a good mood. In addition, endorphins reduce the feeling of pain, and it has been shown that depressed people produce less endorphins.
- Within the group of catecholamines are found dopamine and norepinephrinewhich are responsible for reinforcing behaviors so that they end up becoming habits. The positive feeling produced by these hormones helps improve our performance. However, both their excess and their absence can cause changes in the brain that lead to depression.
- Cortisol It is a steroid hormone that the body produces in stressful situations. People with depression often have very high levels of worry, caused precisely by the excess of this hormone, which also makes it difficult to rest and concentrate and increases the amount of negative feelings.
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Estrogens, testosterone, contraceptives and depression
Numerous studies have shown that Women are much more likely than men to suffer from depression.
Not only external factors can promote the onset of depression, but also the processes that take place within the body play a fundamental role. Men have higher levels of testosterone than women, a factor that may explain why women are more likely to suffer from depression.
But what role do birth control pills play in all this?
Well, it turns out that birth control pills often contain estrogen. This causes the decreased testosterone levelswhich can translate into a higher risk of suffering from depression.
Does taking birth control increase the risk of depression?
From time to time, news stories linking the intake of contraceptive pills with depressive disordersHowever, answering this question is not as easy as answering a yes or no question.
Several studies have investigated the relationship between contraceptives and depression, with varying results.
For example, a Danish research A 2016 study involving more than a million women found that women taking contraceptives that combined estrogen and progestin were more likely to be diagnosed with depression.
Furthermore, the results of the study concluded that the risk of developing depression caused by contraceptives often decreased with increasing age. Thus, Patients between 15 and 19 years of age were at greatest risk. receiving a depressive diagnosis.
With contrary results we found a Swedish study conducted by researchers from various universities. This research divided the subjects of study into two groups: the first took the contraceptive pill, the second a placebo. Although patients taking the pill reported feeling more anxious and irritable, their symptoms of premenstrual depression were significantly reduced compared to those taking the placebo.
If you notice that your mental health has worsened with the use of contraceptives, do not hesitate to alert your GP. In addition, Psychia We can offer you psychological support to overcome problems such as depression.