Longer birth control pill use linked to lower odds of depressive symptoms

Women in the United States who have used birth control pills for a longer period may be less likely to experience symptoms of depression, according to a new study published in The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine. The research found a consistent link between extended oral contraceptive use and lower rates of depressive symptoms, particularly among women without diabetes.

Birth control pills, or oral contraceptives, are medications commonly used to prevent pregnancy. They typically contain synthetic forms of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones regulate the menstrual cycle and prevent ovulation. In addition to contraception, oral contraceptives are sometimes prescribed to manage acne, painful periods, or irregular menstrual cycles. Because they alter hormone levels, researchers have been interested in how these pills might also influence mental health.

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders globally and affects women more frequently than men. The reasons for this difference are not fully understood, but hormone fluctuations are thought to play a role. Since oral contraceptives alter levels of estrogen and progesterone, they may influence mood. Previous research has produced mixed findings. Some studies report an increased risk of depression among hormonal contraceptive users, especially during adolescence, while others suggest a possible protective effect.

To help clarify this issue, researchers Yajing Sun and Chen Zhang conducted a large-scale analysis to examine whether the length of time a woman has used birth control pills is associated with the likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms.

The study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a large, nationally representative dataset collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The researchers focused on data from 2005 to 2012, the only cycle that included information on both birth control pill use and depression symptoms.

From over 5,500 women initially considered, more than 2,700 met the inclusion criteria for the final analysis. Women were excluded if they were missing information about how long they had used birth control pills, their depression symptoms, or other health variables.

To assess depressive symptoms, the researchers used a widely accepted questionnaire known as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. This survey asks participants to rate how often they’ve experienced common depression symptoms—such as low mood, sleep problems, or feelings of worthlessness—over the past two weeks. A score of 10 or higher on the questionnaire is typically used as a threshold to indicate the presence of significant depressive symptoms.

Participants were also asked how long they had used birth control pills. The researchers then looked at the relationship between that duration and the likelihood of meeting the threshold for depressive symptoms. They used statistical models to control for a wide range of other factors that might influence depression risk, including age, race, body weight, alcohol use, and medical history, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

The researchers found that women who had taken birth control pills for a longer time were less likely to report depressive symptoms. This association remained even after accounting for various demographic and health-related factors.

In more technical terms, the odds of depressive symptoms decreased with each additional year of birth control pill use. The association was especially strong among women without diabetes. Among this subgroup, the likelihood of experiencing depression symptoms dropped by about 5% with each additional year of use.

The researchers also conducted what’s known as a “threshold analysis,” which looks for specific cut-off points where the relationship between two variables changes. They found that the strongest decrease in depression symptoms occurred in women who had used birth control pills for up to 9.3 years. Beyond that point, the association remained negative but did not become stronger.

Visual models supported this finding, showing a steady decline in the odds of depressive symptoms as the duration of pill use increased. This pattern was observed across most subgroups of women, including those from different racial backgrounds, marital statuses, and body weight categories.

While the study was not designed to identify the biological mechanisms behind the observed association, the researchers discussed several possible explanations.

One hypothesis is that oral contraceptives may help stabilize hormonal fluctuations, which can affect mood. Estrogen and progesterone, the two main hormones in birth control pills, play important roles in brain function. Estrogen has been shown to reduce inflammation in the brain and support the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, a protective layer that shields the brain from harmful substances. It may also influence how the brain responds to stress by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, a system involved in the body’s stress response.

Progesterone may also contribute by reducing brain inflammation and supporting the repair of brain tissue, the researchers said. Both hormones are thought to help maintain emotional balance, and some researchers believe that their synthetic counterparts in birth control pills might offer similar benefits. By regulating these hormones more consistently over time, oral contraceptives might help reduce the risk of depression in some women.

Although the study’s findings are based on a large and nationally representative sample, several limitations need to be considered.

First, because the data come from a cross-sectional survey, it is not possible to determine whether taking birth control pills caused the reduction in depressive symptoms. It’s also possible that women who are less prone to depression may be more likely to continue using oral contraceptives over time, or that other unmeasured factors contributed to the observed link.

Second, the study did not examine the specific types or doses of birth control pills used. Different formulations may have different effects on mood, and some types of pills contain only progesterone, while others include both estrogen and progesterone. Without this information, it’s difficult to draw conclusions about which forms of contraception might be most relevant to depression risk.

The study also focused on adult women aged 20 and older, so the findings may not apply to teenagers or young adults, who may respond differently to hormonal changes. In addition, the data did not include measures of how consistently women took the pills, which could affect their impact.

Future studies could help clarify these issues by tracking women over time, gathering more detailed information about the types of birth control they use, and monitoring changes in mood over different stages of use. Such research could also help determine whether hormonal contraception might be useful as part of a broader approach to managing depressive symptoms in some women.

The study, “Association between duration of birth control pill use and risk of depression among US women: A cross-sectional NHANES study,” was authored by Yajing Sun and Chen Zhang.