One of the largest studies included 6,654 sexually active non-pregnant women participating in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. However, most women with a history of depression experienced either no change in their mood (61%) or mood improvement (14%) only a small number (25%) experienced mood worsening on the pill. They noted that women with a history of depression were more likely to experience mood worsening on the pill than those with no history of depression.

In the overall sample, 107 women (16.3%) noted worsening of their mood on oral contraceptive, 81 (12.3%) experienced mood improvement, and 470 (71.4%) had no change in their mood. In this study, data from 658 women were analyzed to determine the proportion of women whose mood either improved or worsened while taking an oral contraceptive. The Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles examined the effect of oral contraceptives on mood. The few research studies we do have show that oral contraceptives are well-tolerated by most women. While this is what we observe clinically, it is not a common side effect but is severe enough to lead to discontinuation. Women with OC dysphoria typically develop moderate to severe depressive symptoms shortly after starting oral contraceptives, and they usually stop taking it before finishing the first pack. In our group, we refer to this as “OC dysphoria”. Despite the prevalence of OC usage, few studies have explored the association between hormonal contraceptive use and mood disturbance.Ĭlinically we find that some women report depression or mood swings with oral contraceptive. In addition, some women may experience depression or mood swings, side effects that may influence a woman’s decision to start taking an oral contraceptive (OC), particularly if she has a history of depression. Potential side effects include bloating, breast tenderness, and weight gain. Many women have concerns about the side effects of oral contraceptives (birth control pills).

Birth control symptoms