Teenage girls taking Pill may face higher risk of depression

WOMEN taking the Pill may be at increased risk of depression – with teenagers facing an 80 per cent higher risk, a major study has found.

The Danish study looking at one million women found that those on the most popular type of Pill – combined oral contraceptives – were almost one quarter more likely to be prescribed an anti-depressant than non-users.

The risk rose to 80 per cent among teenagers aged 15 to 19.

Researchers analysed data tracking more than one million women and girls aged between 15 and 34. Over an average period of six years, participants taking combined oral contraceptives containing a mixture of hormones were shown to be 23 per cent more likely than non-users to be treated with antidepressants for the first time.

Users of progestin-only pills, which rely on synthetic progesterone, had a 34 per cent increased risk.

Those using contraceptive patches containing the same hormone had twice that, while higher risks were also associated with hormonal rings and coils.

Scientists suspect a link with progesterone, which has been shown to have a negative effect on mood during the menstrual cycle.

The Danish researchers, led by Dr Ojvind Lidegaard, from the University of Copenhagen, wrote in the journal Jama Psychiatry: “Further studies are warranted to examine depression as a potential adverse effect of hormonal contraceptive use.” In 2000, nearly four million women in the UK were on the Pill according to the Family Planning Association (FPA).

Dr Channa Jayasena, from the society for endocrinology and Imperial College London, said: “This study raises important questions about the Pill. In over a million Danish women, depression was associated with contraceptive Pill use. The study does not prove (and does not claim) that the Pill plays any role in the development of depression.

“However, we know hormones play a hugely important role in regulating human behaviour. Given the enormous size of this study, further work is needed to see if these results can be repeated in other populations.

“Until then, women should not be deterred from taking the Pill.”

Dr Ali Kubba, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, pointed out that despite known evidence that hormonal contraception can affect women’s moods, the study did not demonstrate causation.

He said: “Women should not be alarmed by this study as all women react differently to different methods of contraception.”

80pc Higher risk of depression among teenagers taking the most popular type of Pill – combined oral contraceptives