---
title: Are women who have mood problems from birth control pills more likely to have psychiatric disorders?
description: Yes. Women who experienced mood-related side effects from combination birth control pills had higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders compared to women who
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-of-psychiatric-disorders-and-premenstrual-dysphoric-symptoms-in-2009/
---

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- Are women who have mood problems from birth control pills more likely to have psychiatric disorders?

Survey study, 2009

# Are women who have mood problems from birth control pills more likely to have psychiatric disorders?

Yes. Women who experienced mood-related side effects from combination birth control pills had higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders compared to women who had no mood problems from the pills.

 Early or limited evidence

30 on birth control with no mood problems, 28 on with mood problems, 33 discontinued for mood, 27 discontinued for other reasons

## What they did

Researchers compared four groups of women: 30 currently taking birth control with no mood problems, 28 currently taking it with mood-related side effects, 33 who stopped taking it because of mood effects, and 27 who stopped for other reasons. They assessed current psychiatric disorders and used daily ratings to identify PMS or PMDD.

## What they found

Women who experienced mood-related side effects from birth control pills (whether they were still taking them or had stopped) had higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders than women with no mood problems from the pills. Women who stopped pills due to mood effects were also more likely to have had a past abortion. There was no clear difference in PMS or PMDD prevalence between groups.

## What it means for you

Women with existing mood or anxiety disorders may be more susceptible to mood problems from combination birth control pills. Mood side effects from pills may indicate an underlying mood disorder that needs attention. This is a relatively small study, so more research is needed.

30

taking birth control with no mood problems

28

taking birth control with mood-related side effects

33

stopped birth control due to mood effects

## About the study

Original title Prevalence of psychiatric disorders and premenstrual dysphoric symptoms in patients with experience of adverse mood during treatment with combined oral contraceptives Authors Segebladh B, Borgström A, Odlind V et al. Journal Contraception Year 2009 Study design Survey study Participants 33 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2008.08.001](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2008.08.001)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Randomised trial, 2020

How should premenstrual syndrome be diagnosed and treated?

Case report, 2017

Can a combined oral contraceptive pill help PMDD in women who also have depression or anxiety?

Survey study, 2008

Do healthy women without PMDD have mood changes during their menstrual cycle?

Study, 2008

What causes severe PMS and how is it treated?

Non-randomised trial, 2008

Can the Sheehan Disability Scale measure whether treatments work?

Randomised trial, 1999

Do SSRIs reduce premenstrual dysphoria symptoms?

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