Could my birth control pill cause depression?

Millions of people take birth control pills. In fact, “the pill” is the second most common form of contraception used by women ages 18 to 49 in the United States. In addition to preventing unintended pregnancies, these oral medications can help improve cramps, heavy bleeding, premenstrual syndrome, and acne.

But some research suggests the pill is associated with depression. And while the evidence is mixed, many people stop using birth control pills due to depression concerns. Here’s what to know.

Birth control pills and mood

Birth control pills contain reproductive hormones. Some include only progestin, while others combine progestin and estrogen. To prevent pregnancy, the pills work to change the levels of hormones in your body. This may lead to mood changes, as well, which are a common and well-known side effect of the medication.

Depression is a mental health disorder that involves a prolonged, serious change in mood. It’s characterized by persistent sadness, hopelessness, or loss of interest or pleasure. It can profoundly affect your day-to-day life. A few different factors play a role in depression risk, including your genetics and environment.

Since hormonal birth control may cause mood changes and many people report having depression when they’re taking the pill, some people believe they’re linked.

Reviewing the evidence

There’s a large body of research examining the potential ties between birth control pills and depression. Much of it hasn’t found a direct cause-and-effect. One study published in 2024 in the Journal of Affective Disorders even found that people taking the pill were less likely to report major depression compared with never users or past users.

But some studies show a different picture. A 2023 British study published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences found that birth control pills were tied to higher rates of depression in the first two years of use and a slightly higher lifetime risk thereafter.

Another study of more than 1 million women and teenagers ages 15 to 34 found that people who used hormonal birth control saw a small rise in first-time antidepressant use. This included people who used pills as well as other hormonal contraception, including the patch, ring, and progesterone IUD. The results were published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2016.

Since studies keep getting different results, the debate persists and research remains ongoing. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to safeguard your mental and reproductive well-being.

How to protect your health

Ultimately, your choice of birth control will depend on many factors, including your age, health status, and family plans. If you’re considering depression risk, it’s important to understand these points:

• People are different. They respond to birth control pills in different ways. Some are more sensitive to the pills’ potential mental health effects than others.
• Some people are at a higher risk for depression. If you have a personal or family history of the disorder, for example, you may be more likely to develop it while taking the pill.
• If you experience depression while taking the birth control pill, it may be due to other factors.
• Most people don’t develop depression while they’re on the pill.
• Depression isn’t a contraindication for the pill. That means experts don’t consider the condition to be a reason for avoiding its use.

With that in mind, the best step you can take is speaking with a healthcare provider (HCP). Based on your personal situation, talk about your options and preferences and weigh the pill’s benefits and drawbacks. You may want to try a newer type of pill, for example, with fewer side effects.

If you’re already on the pill, let your HCP know about any concerning emotional changes or symptoms. With their guidance, you may switch to another type of pill or form of contraception that works better for you.