Volume 28, Issue 150, August 2024

Oral contraception use and depression: Review

Dominika Kabała^1♦, Michał Bielecki², Adam Jaskulski³, Marcin Głód⁴, Milena Szczepańska⁵, Agata Zapałowska², Tymon Zatorski⁶

¹University Clinical Centre of the Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
²John Paul II Independent Public Specialist Western Hospital, Daleka 11, 05-825 Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland
³The Independent Group of Public Ambulatory Care Institutions Warsaw-Ochota, Szczęśliwicka 36, 02-353 Warsaw, Poland
⁴Masovian Bródnowski Hospital, Kondratowicza 8, 03-242 Warsaw, Poland
⁵Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
⁶The Independent Group of Public Ambulatory Care Institutions Warsaw-Mokotów, Madalińskiego 13, 02-513 Warsaw, Poland

^♦Corresponding Author
University Clinical Centre of the Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

Background: Oral contraceptive pills are an effective and widely used method of contraception that offers various health benefits; however, their potential impact on mood and other depressive symptoms remains contentious. This review aims to evaluate the effects of COC use on depression by analyzing recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Method: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed and Google Scholar databases for RCTs published from 2010 to 2024. The review concentrated on studies that assessed the impact of COCs on depressive symptoms using standardized measurement tools. Following rigorous screening, five studies were included in the analysis. Results: The review concludes that the relationship between oral contraception and depressive symptoms is ambiguous. While some studies confirmed an association between COCs and mood deterioration, particularly in women with a history of moodrelated side effects, others found no significant impact or even potential mood improvement in specific populations, such as those with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). There are also indications that oral contraceptive use in adolescents might lead to an increased risk of depression in adulthood. Conclusion: The relationship between COC use and mood is complex and influenced by individual factors. Healthcare providers should engage in comprehensive conversations with patients regarding the potential psychological side effects of COCs to ensure informed and personalized contraceptive care.

Keywords: Depression, oral contraception, combined oral contraceptives

Medical Science, 2024, 28, e100ms3410

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v28i150.e100ms3410

Published: 16 August 2024