Birth Control and Mood Connection

your birth control might be impacting your mood. and it probably isn't for the better.

Birth control has been found to be related to mood swings, anxiety, and depression. Read the following stats to see just how big of an effect it can have.

  • Women taking the combined contraceptive pill were 23% more likely to be prescribed antidepressants.
  • A study in 2017 showed that women who used hormonal birth control, including the pill, the ring, IUD, and patch had three times the risk of suicide compared to women who have never used hormonal birth control. This risk peaked in the first two months of beginning birth control.
  • Teens prescribed the pill were 80% more likely to develop depression when prescribed the combination pill.
While there isn't a solid answer on why  it happens, there are some things to take into consideration that may shed light onto these mood swings.

Nutrient Deficiencies
It has been show that birth control depletes critical nutrients that support the mood. These include magnesium and antioxidants like vitamin c and vitamin e. The pill also depletes vitamin B6 and messes with tryptophan in the brain, both which are necessary for serotonin production.

Birth Control is Inflammatory
Inflammation in the body disrupts neurotransmitter production and can impact healthy neurotransmitter levels significantly.

Adrenals and Thyroid
The pill, ring, patch, IUD, and implant all mess with thyroid and adrenals, which impact your mood. It has been show that hypothyroid women are more prone to anxiety and depression, so if your birth control is impacting your thyroid function, you bet it's going to have an effect on your moods!

Decreased Brain-Protecting Molecules
There has been evidence that pill users can experience decreased neuroprotective molecules and increased neurotoxic chemicals. This shift in brain molecules can be detrimental to your mood.  

Did any of this surprise you? I had no idea that my mood was so connected to birth control! Share your experiences in the comments below! Until next time :)


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