Are Birth Control Pills Bad For Your Mental Health?
The most up-to-date studies show that around 85% of the world’s female population uses contraceptives for approximately 5 years of their lives. While it is true that the main reason for consumption is contraception, this is not the only cause.
Some women take them to reduce or control various symptoms associated with menstruation. However, it is important that we ask ourselves if we are really aware of the impact that these pills can have on the lives – in general terms and not only in reference to their sexual and reproductive health – of women.
Throughout this article we will explain what birth control pills are and how they work, that is, what effects they have on our body. Once the foundations have been laid, we will address the effect they have on our brain. Finally, we will delve into the relationship between these birth control pills and mental health addressing, among others, topics such as stress, depression and suicide.
What are birth control pills and how do they work?
Birth control pills or pills are a type of oral medication that, among their various compounds, contain hormones. They are usually distinguished mainly into two groups. On the one hand, those that contain estrogens and progesterone. On the other hand, there are those that only contain progestin.
These hormones are produced naturally in a woman’s body. However, When consumed through pills, endogenous hormone levels are modified. Among the different effects that the alteration of hormonal levels has on our body, it is necessary to highlight that the release of the egg is prevented during the menstrual cycle.
That is, although many women do not know it, taking birth control pills means that they are not ovulating and, therefore, the bleeding they have once a month is called withdrawal bleeding. We could say that, in reality, when taking the contraceptive pill there is no menstrual cycle.
As mentioned initially, There are many women who take the pills for various reasons beyond contraception. In this sense, an improvement in acne and excessive hair, a decrease in dysmenorrhea (pain) and bleeding and lower androgen production (related to polycystic ovary syndrome) among others has been observed.
Other effects on the body
One of the main objectives of birth control pills is, as we have already mentioned, to prevent ovulation from occurring and, therefore, the possibility of getting pregnant. However, there are many adverse effects that have been related to their continued intake. Some are mentioned below:
Effects of contraceptives on the brain
Our body works as a whole, therefore, taking the contraceptive pill does not only affect our menstrual cycle. The previously mentioned hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are also present in the brain.
It is important to keep in mind that These hormones also have effects on various neuronal processes. that are not related to reproduction. On the one hand, estrogens are involved in processes related to memory and, on the other hand, progesterone is related to emotional regulation.
Thus, the modification of hormone levels that occurs both in our body and in our brain can have a considerable impact on people’s physical and mental health. Therefore, it is crucial that women have all the necessary information to be able to make the decisions that are most appropriate for them.
Relationship between birth control pills and mental health
It is necessary to clarify that, as of today, there is still no consensus regarding the issue. While it is true that there are many studies that advocate a “good” relationship between pills and mental health (noting that they can improve women’s mood), there are more and more studies that defend the negative impact that pills can have on mental health.
On the one hand, Studies that deny this relationship usually attribute depressive states or mood disorders to individual factors. (the person’s history, genetic predisposition, etc.) On the other hand, research that links birth control pills to worse mental health shows alarming results that should not be ignored or minimized.
Interaction between contraceptives and stress
Neuroscience knows the important role that estrogens and progesterone also play in our body’s stress response. They are involved in the fight or flight response that is activated in our autonomic nervous system when faced with perceived danger. That is, it has been observed that Women who take birth control pills continuously have a lower response to stress due to interactions that occur with cortisol.
While it is true that this can be beneficial in some cases, the impact can put women at risk in certain situations. Furthermore, this situation can contribute to demotivation and detachment. Again, the impact may vary depending on each person and situation.
Because stress is related to mood, it is considered that by modifying stress responses, birth control pills could be a protective factor against depression. It is considered that many people can benefit from an improvement in mood.
However, there are many studies that have found a direct relationship between the continued intake of birth control pills and a greater probability of suffering from depression and anxiety. Especially when the intake occurs during adolescence.
In addition, there are studies that link contraceptives with a greater probability of committing a suicide attempt, insisting on the greater vulnerability during adolescence.
