Myth: Hormonal contraceptives have a positive effect on mental health.
Truth: This is false.
Hormonal contraceptives are a common form of contraception such as oral contraceptives, the patch, birth control injections, vaginal rings, and several intrauterine devices. They have a significant amount of side effects, including mood changes. For this reason, many adolescents choose to discontinue hormonal contraceptives.
A study published in PLoS One journal investigated the harmful effects of hormonal contraceptives on the psychological health of women ages 12-30 in Sweden. The study looked at the use of psychotropic drugs, such as antidepressants, by women after beginning hormonal contraceptives. The study found an association between the use of hormonal contraceptives and psychotropic drugs in adolescent girls ages 12-14. To read more about this study, click here.
Reference
- Zettermark, S., Vicente, R. P., & Merlo, J. (2018). Hormonal contraception increases the risk of psychotropic drug use in adolescent girls but not in adults: A pharmacoepidemiological study on 800 000 Swedish women. PloS one, 13(3), e0194773. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194773
