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.
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
Topics
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