Some birth control pills are less likely to cause depression. Chief among these are combination birth control pills, which work over a longer period of time during the menstrual cycle. Because a woman takes the placebo pill for a shorter period of time than a traditional 28-day birth control pill, her hormone levels remain more stable.

History

Birth control pills have traditionally come in 21- or 28-day versions. A woman takes pills containing the hormones for a certain number of days, followed by a placebo for the remainder of the cycle. Some new plans prescribe a pill every day for an entire year. Others require that you take the pills for three months, then a low hormone pill during menstruation.

Significance

Women who have fewer periods are less likely to experience the negative effects of menstruation. Some women have debilitating premenstrual syndrome, which interferes with their lives. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder affects women by causing anxiety, fear, and depression.

Types

Lybrel is a low-dose birth control pill that stops your period for an entire year. Seasonale stops the flow for three months, followed by one week of placebo pills. Seasonique also stops your period for three months, followed by low-dose estrogen pills for a week.

Types

The FDA approved a birth control pill to help women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD. YAZ, as it is called, contains progestin and ethinyl estradiol, a type of estrogen.

Effects

PMDD is a condition that significantly impacts the ability to work and function normally. Symptoms include markedly increased depression, change in appetite, anger, anxiety, bloating, headaches, and muscle aches.

Warning

According to the National Institutes of Health, discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of taking birth control pills. All birth control pills carry side effects. However, one of these alternative birth control pills may help you to mitigate feelings of depression.

Source:

Healthy Women website: About birth control pills

YAZ website: What is PMDD?

NIH MedLine Plus website: Birth Control