Research reveals how birth control pills affect mental health in women

A lot of women use pills among several other methods for birth control as researchers keep trying to come up with new ones. These contraceptives are also known to have certain side effects which are mostly thought to affect the body.

But it has been found that apart from affecting the body, birth control can also have consequences for the mind. Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health side effects caused by the pill used by around 100 million women all over the world.

Sex hormones are found to have significant impact on brain areas associated with emotional and cognitive functioning. Progesterone in contraceptive pills can induce depression in vulnerable women.

The effects of hormone shifts on mood and behaviour may vary with some women being very sensitive to small shifts in oestrogen and progesterone.