A cohort study looks at the effects of birth control pills on the mental health of women who take them. Birth control pills have been linked to depression. The scientific work was published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. Depressive disorder is one of the most common mental illnesses worldwide. It is characterized by episodes of low mood that include feelings of sadness, emptiness, and irritability. There is a loss of interest in any activities, hopelessness for the future, low self-esteem. Episodes also include severe, debilitating fatigue and changes in appetite. According to the WHO, about 5% of adult men and women worldwide suffer from depressive mood. Statistically, women have a stronger tendency towards depression, being 50% more likely to have a depressive disorder. This rate can be increased by taking birth control pills. They have a proven effect on emotional state, but have not been associated with an increased possibility of depressive disorder. The cohort study, conducted by scientists at Uppsala University, Sweden, looked at the effect of combined contraceptive pills containing progestogen and estrogen. A progestogen is a compound that stops the ovulation process and prevents sperm from entering the uterus. Estrogen’s function is to prevent pregnancy by thinning the lining of the uterus. But the contraceptive effect of the pill is accompanied by unwanted side effects. Starting contraceptives as a teenager increases the risk of depression, scientists say. The hormonal changes experienced at this age can make women more susceptible to other hormonal changes brought on by the pill. The study found that women who started taking birth control as teenagers had a 130% higher incidence of depressive symptoms. For comparison, among adult women who take contraceptives, this percentage is 92%. Early age and contraception have other dangers. Even stopping the pill does not reduce the risk of depression due to hormonal changes. Stopping even increases the risk of depression, scientists say. Combined contraceptive pills are perceived differently by each organism, but most women show a strong tolerance to the hormones in them. In addition to preventing pregnancy, they reduce the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer. But some women may have an increased risk of depression after they start taking such pills. References: Uppsala University. (2023, June 12) New study links contraceptive pills and depression. Retrieved 2023, June 13 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-06-links-contraceptive-pills-depression.html Johansson, A. (2023, June 12) Population-based cohort study of oral contraceptive use and risk of depression. Retrieved 2023, June 13 from https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/epidemiology-and-psychiatric-sciences/article/populationbased-cohort-study-of-oral-contraceptive-use-and-risk-of-depression/B3C611DD318D7DC536B4BD439343A5BD