Review, 2020
Do hormonal contraceptives cause depression?
The link between hormonal contraceptives and depression is still debated. Women with a history of mood disorders or PMDD are at higher risk of mood effects, and adolescence appears to be a critical vulnerable period.
What they did
Literature review of studies on hormonal contraceptive use and depressive symptoms, focusing on how they work in the brain.
What they found
More than 100 million women use hormonal contraceptives worldwide. The main pathway for menstrual cycle-related mood changes is the GABA pathway, which is sensitive to progesterone and its metabolite allopregnanolone. Different progestins have different effects on allopregnanolone based on their androgenicity. Progestins may affect brain structure and function. Adolescence is a critical period with complex, possibly bidirectional vulnerability. Women with a history of mood disorders or PMDD are at higher risk of negative mood effects.
What it means for you
Hormonal contraceptives may affect mood through brain chemistry, especially in women with mood vulnerabilities. Adolescence appears to be a particularly critical and sensitive period. More research is needed to clarify who is at highest risk and whether hormonal type matters.
>100 million
Women worldwide using hormonal contraceptives
About the study
- Original title
- Hormonal Contraception and Depression: Updated Evidence and Implications in Clinical Practice
- Authors
- Fruzzetti F, Fidecicchi T
- Journal
- Clinical drug investigation
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- Hormonal contraceptives
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s40261-020-00966-8
Topics
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