Actively taking birth control pills may lead to depressed mood: Study suggests it may not be immediately obvious

Women take oral contraceptives or birth control pills to prevent accidental pregnancies. However, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, these oral contraceptives can also affect mood, potentially increasing the risk of depression in birth control pill users. The study sheds light on how these oral contraceptives impact mental health. Birth control pills essentially regulate hormones to prevent pregnancy and regulate the menstrual cycle.

negative effects on mood

The study details how birth control pills contain ‘synthetic hormones’ whose purpose is to prevent the release of eggs from the ovaries. The study further states that birth control pills have some benefits such as reducing menstrual cramps and acne. But this has the potential downside of spoiling a woman’s mood.

Researchers examined 53 women aged 18-26 who had been using combined oral contraceptives for at least three months. Participants were tested at two stages of their contraceptive cycle: one when they were actively taking hormones (active phase) and one when they were not (inactive phase). The tests included a battery of mood assessment questionnaires to assess their mood and see if there were any patterns.

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Discrepancy between self-reported data and researcher’s assessment

The study results highlighted differences in women’s assessments of mood. Self-reported data (when participants give their perspective on their mood rather than scientific observations or findings) from women taking birth control pills showed higher negative emotions such as depressive mood. According to the study, negative mood was higher during the inactive phase, according to self-reported data.

But when researchers assessed (cognitive assessment via the affect misattribution process and the emotional Stroop task) how women responded to certain images (sad or angry faces) and words, they revealed that when women were taking active hormonal pills, If they were pregnant, they displayed a more depressed mood. This is especially true for women who were already showing symptoms of depression before taking the pills. However, this may not seem obvious.

This discrepancy between self-reported data and researchers’ assessments indicates that they often do not recognize the impact of birth control pills on their mood, with underlying cognitive patterns suggesting a greater depressive response when they are actively taking hormones. Are there.

Birth control pills cause hormonal changes that may contribute to changes in the way emotions are processed, but the effects are not the same for everyone.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.

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