Research from the University of Copenhagen has confirmed a link between oral and other hormonal contraceptives and depression. Many doctors have known for a long time that the synthetic hormones in some contraceptives can induce depression. This is the biggest study of its kind, where one million Danish women between the ages of 15 and 34 were followed for a total of 13 years. The scientists found that women who took the combined oral contraceptive pill were 23 percent more likely to be diagnosed with depression, while those taking progestin-only pills (commonly referred to as the mini pill) were 34 percent more likely. Teenagers were at highest risk of depression, with a staggering 80 percent increase when taking the combined pill. The risk was two fold higher with the progestin-only pill. So what about hormonal contraceptives that aren’t taken as a pill? They fared worst of all; the hormonal IUD/coil, patch and ring were shown to increase depression at a rate much higher than either kind of oral contraceptive pills. Over the years I have seen many patients who’ve experienced a significant worsening of their depression by hormonal contraceptives. In fact, mood changes are one of the most common reasons women stop taking the pill. Headaches, weight gain and loss of libido are other common problems. Women who are experiencing depression, or have strong risk factors for developing depression should ideally avoid hormonal birth control. Barrier methods of contraception or non-medicated IUDs may be more suitable. Your doctor can help you find the right method of contraception for you. For information on how to treat depression and anxiety see my book. Reference: