Taking birth control pills is a common practice for people who do not want to conceive a baby but still want to be sexually active. While there are benefits in taking birth control pills, there might also be some side effects. One of them is depression. In fact, the incidence of depression in women is double in women who have taken birth control pills than that in women who do not take the pills.
When Is Depression Felt?
Majority of the women who experience depression due to taking oral contraceptives experience it while taking the birth control pills. More than half of the respondents in a survey suffered from mood swings and more than 60% of them became irritable while on the pill. Take note that respondents for the survey had no history of depression so the cause really is pointed back to taking birth control pills.
Not all women who take birth control pills experience depression though. And some women don’t experience it right away. Many, in fact, only experience it after long term use of the pills. There are also some who only feel the symptoms of depression when they stop taking the birth control pills.
How Depression Develop in Women Taking Birth Control Pills
By nature women generally have more tendencies to suffer depression than men. It is therefore said that hormones and hormonal changes has a great effect on depression.
When a woman takes birth control pills, she is in effect trying to inhibit fertility in her body. What the birth control pills do is it introduces artificial hormones into the body. This would, in turn, trick the body into believing that the woman is already pregnant. So, in effect it no longer goes to a fertile state. The introduction of progesterone and estrogen somehow disturbs the hormonal balance in the body. This change is what causes the depression in women.
Again, the side effects can be different from one woman to another. And not all get the side effect either. For better guidance though you should consult your OB/GYN before taking birth control pills. At least, you would be sure whether it is safe for you to take them. You would also be guided as to which brands are safe and should be trusted.