The contraceptive pill is a common type of birth control that many women around the world use. However, there can be major side-effects that affect you both mentally and physically. Anxiety and depression are common among women on the pill. Many women use the pill to prevent pregnancy or to maintain bad periods.
Like all medications, they have side effects. The pill is no different. However, many women who use the pill can suffer from horrible side effects, although not all women experience them.
Some of the common side effects include:
Mood swings
Bleeding or spotting in between periods
Weight gain
Acne
Irregular periods or loss of
Nausea
Breast tenderness
Raised blood pressure
Rare side effects:
Blood clots
Strokes
Cancer
Heart attack
Liver tumours
The long list of side effects can scare anyone off of contraceptive pills. Why should women have to endure all these side effects just to prevent pregnancy? In addition, even though contraceptives are to prevent pregnancy, there are many people that still get pregnant whilst taking them.
Depression and anxiety on the pill
Depression and anxiety can affect our daily lives, so if the pill is affecting you this badly mentally, I would suggest speaking with your GP to look at other alternative birth control if it’s what you want.
Some symptoms of depression may include:
Persistent sadness
Tiredness
Anger
Lack of energy
Trouble focusing and/or concentrating
Sleep issues
Isolation
Loss of interest in activities you usually love
Drug or alcohol abuse
Symptoms of anxiety
Increased heart rate
Excessive worrying
Teeth grinding
Always thinking the worst
Headaches
Nausea
Insomnia
Excessive sweating or hot flushes
If symptoms worsen whilst on the pill, contact your local GP.
Are there any advantages of taking the pill?
Although there are many disadvantages of the pill, there are also some advantages of the use of contraceptive pills which include.
Reduced risk of certain health conditions
It does not interrupt sex
Periods become lighter, regular and less painful
It can reduce acne
Protects against pelvic inflammatory disease
Reduces risk of fibroids and ovarian cysts
High level of protection
Despite the fact that the pill has various side effects both bad and good, everyone’s bodies are different and there is more than just one type of contraception that you can look into and find out what is best for you and your body.
Is the pill safe?
Like all other medications, there are side effects which can range from mild to severe, however the pill is safe for most people. The best thing to do is do some research on it and speak with your doctor about any concerns you may have.
What are the different types of contraception?
Combined pill
IUD
Vaginal ring
Cap
Condoms (female and male)
Implant
Diaphragm
Injection
Patch
Female sterilisation
Progestogen only pill
The effectiveness of contraception is dependent on the type; however, no contraception is 100% reliable.
What to do if my mental health is suffering due to the pill
Firstly, you should contact your local GP and discuss your side effects and either come off it or find a more suitable contraception. If you are suffering from depression and anxiety the doctor will be able to advise you on what to do and how to help.
Secondly, don’t drink too much alcohol. Alcohol enhances symptoms and is more liable to cause depression and anxiety. You want to help lessen these symptoms, not enhance them.
Lastly, do what’s best for you, your body and mind. If the contraceptive pill is something you really want but you are struggling with the side effects, talk with your GP. Hopefully, changing contraceptives will help with your mental health rather than increase it. However, if your mental health does get worse, you should consider coming off them altogether and working on your mental health. There are many support groups around nowadays to help you when you are at your lowest.
If I already suffer from depression, will the pill enhance it?
If you have a history of depression and anxiety, the best thing to do is consult your doctor about what contraception would be best for you. There are no studies that state whether it can enhance your depression, but it is a side effect of taking the contraceptive pill. Although there are no scientific studies, many women explain that it has enhanced their anxiety and depression and triggered panic attacks. However, the copper IUD and condoms do not appear to cause depression or anxiety, so that might be something worth looking into.
3 facts about the pill:
Taking the pill every day at the same time gives you a lower chance of getting pregnant. But if you forget to take it at the same time, the effectiveness drops down to 91%.
The pill can enhance your sex drive or have the opposite effect making it harder to climax and lowers your libido.
The more you weigh, the less effective the pill might be.
If I come off the pill, will my symptoms go away?
If you are on the contraceptive pill and are suffering from bad side effects that may affect your mental health, coming off the pill might seem like a good idea. Although, when you are coming off the pill, the symptoms won’t just disappear overnight. Many people state that it took a couple of months for their symptoms to vanish. However, don’t let this put you off, they will go away eventually, and if they don’t I suggest having a word with your doctor and letting them know.
Coming off the pill will also result in a withdrawal bleed, and this normally lasts around a week.
If you are coming off the pill because you and your partner want to get pregnant, don’t expect results straight away. As the pill’s purpose is to stop you ovulating, it can take up to 6 months to get back to ovulating, but it can also happen straight away, everyone’s different. If your period hasn’t come back after 6 months, then it would be wise to visit your GP.
