---
title: Do birth control pills affect mood? | Niyora
description: Birth control pills help most women's mood by reducing mood swings and sadness during menstruation. However, some women experience worse mood while taking the
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/to-what-extent-do-oral-contraceptives-influence-mood-and-affect-2002/
---

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- Do birth control pills affect mood?

Survey study, 2002

# Do birth control pills affect mood?

Birth control pills help most women's mood by reducing mood swings and sadness during menstruation. However, some women experience worse mood while taking them, especially those with a history of depression or pregnancy mood problems.

 Early or limited evidence

Women taking oral contraceptives and women not taking them (various studies reviewed)

## What they did

Researchers reviewed studies comparing women taking birth control pills with women not taking them. They examined daily mood ratings across women's menstrual cycles.

## What they found

On birth control, women had less mood variability and less negative feelings during menstruation. Pills that keep hormone levels stable worked better for mood than pills where hormones change during the month. Women with depression, past pregnancy mood problems, or family history of birth control mood side effects had higher risk.

## What it means for you

Birth control pills generally help mood and reduce mood swings, but they don't work the same for everyone. If you have a history of depression or mood problems, talk to your doctor. Most studies focused on bad mood rather than good mood.

## About the study

Original title To what extent do oral contraceptives influence mood and affect? Authors Oinonen KA, Mazmanian D Journal Journal of affective disorders Year 2002 Study design Survey study What was tested Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0165-0327(01)00356-1](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-0327(01)00356-1)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)

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

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