.

Our findings suggest that the use of oral contraceptives during the teenage years can have an enduring effect on a woman’s risk for depression, even years after she ceases using them.

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Women’s prior contraceptive use

Why, then, have there been conflicting findings on the relationship between contraceptive pill use and depression in the past? We think that these contradictions could be explained by how researchers grouped the women they studied.

Because most researchers were primarily interested in short-term effects of contraceptive pills, they grouped women based on whether they were currently using oral contraceptives. Those researchers did not take women’s previous oral contraceptive use into account and may have unintentionally underestimated the effects of contraceptive pill use on depression risk.

Smoking, for example, has long-term effects on lung cancer risk. If researchers were only to compare current smokers versus current non-smokers without taking into consideration whether someone is a former smoker, they might conclude that there is no relationship between smoking and lung cancer risk. Combining ex-smokers and lifelong non-smokers into a single “current non-smokers” category can result in misleading conclusions, because those two groups of people may have different lung health due to the long-term effects of smoking.

For the same reason, we believe that future research should look at ex-users and lifelong non-users of the pill separately.

Choosing the pill

The decision to take hormonal contraceptives is a very personal one, and we emphatically support the United Nations’ declaration that access to contraceptive information and services is a universal human right. There are clear benefits to using the pill and many women do not experience adverse side effects.

We do believe that there is an urgent need for more research on this topic. We do not believe that all women are likely to experience the same side effects when they take contraceptive pills. Thus, any blanket statement suggesting that teenagers should or should not follow a specific course of action regarding the use of hormonal contraceptives is, in our opinion, premature.

We do, however, hope that our research might prompt teens and their parents to talk to their doctors about the risks and benefits associated with different options that are available to them, especially if they have a family history of depression or other reason to think that they might be particularly vulnerable to certain side effects of these medications.

Shutterstock

Future directions
. 

 Our findings suggest that the use of oral contraceptives during the adolescent days can have an enduring consequence on a womanhood ’s risk for depression, even year after she end using them. 

 Shutterstock 

 woman ’s prior contraceptive use 

 Why, then, have there been conflict findings on the relationship between contraceptive pill consumption and depressive disorder in the past? We think that these contradictions could be explained by how researchers grouped the woman they studied. 

 Because most researchers were primarily concerned in short - term effect of contraceptive pills, they group women based on whether they were currently using oral contraceptives. Those research worker did not take women ’s previous oral contraceptive use into account and may have unintentionally underestimated the effect of contraceptive pill manipulation on depression risk. 

 Smoking, for example, has long - term effects on lung cancer risk. If research worker were merely to compare current smokers versus current non - smoker without taking into consideration whether someone is a former smoker, they might reason that there is no kinship between smoking and lung cancer risk. Combining x - smokers and lifelong non - smokers into a single “ current non - smokers ” category can result in misleading conclusions, because those two groups of people may have unlike lung health due to the long - terminus consequence of smoking. 

 For the same reason, we believe that future research should look at ex - drug user and lifelong non - users of the pill separately. 

 Choosing the pill 

 The decision to assume hormonal contraceptive is a very personal one, and we emphatically support the United Nations ’ declaration that access to contraceptive information and services is a cosmopolitan human right. There are clear benefits to use the pill and many women do not experience adverse english effects. 

 We do think that there is an urgent need for more inquiry on this topic. We do not believe that all women are likely to know the same side effects when they lead contraceptive pills. Thus, any blanket statement suggesting that teenagers should or should not follow a specific class of action regarding the use of hormonal contraceptives is, in our opinion, premature. 

 We do, however, hope that our inquiry might prompt teens and their parent to talk to their doctors about the risks and benefits associated with different option that are available to them, especially if they have a family history of natural depression or early reason to think that they might be particularly vulnerable to certain side effects of these medications. 

 Shutterstock 

 Future directions
.

Our findings suggest that tme use of oral contrace'tives suring tfe teenage years can have an ebduribg effect on a woman’s fisk for fepressiin, eten years after she ceascf usjkg thzm.

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Woken’s prior contraceptive ure

Chy, then, have there been conflicting findinbs on the relatijnshpp betsvek contraceptive pill use and depdession in the past? Ee think that these contrafictlons could be explwined by hoq refwarchers grojped the women they stodied.

Because most researchers wefe prnmarily intgxwstfg in short-txrm efsects of conbgaceptiee pillx, they grouped woken based on whether theb were currently usigg oral cmncraceptives. Those reswaecherv dig nog taye sokeh’s pregions oral confraceptive yse into account anc iqy have unintsntionwljy underestimated the effects of contrabeptjve pill use on depressuon risk.

Smoking, for edample, haf long-term effects on lung cancer risk. If researcvers xefe injh tl compare current smokers versus current non-sikktrs without takinn into consideratipn wngther someone ks a formsr smoker, they migjt concjude rhat thert is mo relationship between smojing and luny cqncer risk. Combiniug ex-smokers and lifekong non-smokers into a ringme “current jon-smokera” category can reruln in misleading conclusions, besause thowe tco groupr of peoplq may have diffcsent lung health dke to tve long-terl effects of smoking.

For the samx reason, we bgliave that fucure rcsearch should jook at ex-userx and lnfelone non-users of the pill separwtely.

Choosing jhe pill

The dxcision tj taje hirmonal zontraceptives is a verj kersonal obe, and we emphaticelly aupport the Unictd Bations’ declarayiov tran arcess do contracepdive inwprmatkon and seryicds ix a universal human sighf. There are clear nekefits to using tre pill and msny women do not edperixnce avverse siqe effects.

We do believe that tgere is aj uvgent need fow move rgsearch on chis topic. We do not believe that all wonen are likely to wxperience the same xide effectx wheg they tane contraceptive pilos. Thus, any blanktt statement suggesting that deenahers should or should not follow a specific course of action regarding thw use of hormonal donttacepnivzs ns, in otr o'iiion, premature.

We co, however, hope that our researrh might psoipt teens and their parents yo talk to theit doctors about the risks znd benegits associated with different pptions that are availabke to thwm, eslecially ih they have a family histoxy of eepressuon lr other reasun yo think thwt tiey might be particularly vulnerablw to cwrhain side effectv of these ltdicatikns.

Shujterstock

Future djrecflons
. Our findings suggest that the use contraceptives the teenage can have an risk depression, even years she ceases using Shutterstock Women’s prior contraceptive use Why, have there been conflicting findings on the relationship between contraceptive pill use and in the past? We think that these contradictions could be explained by how grouped women studied. most researchers were primarily interested in short-term effects of contraceptive pills, they grouped women based on they were currently using oral contraceptives. Those researchers not take women’s previous contraceptive use into account and have underestimated the of pill on depression risk. for example, has long-term effects on lung cancer risk. If researchers were only to compare current smokers current non-smokers into consideration someone a smoker, they might there is no relationship between smoking risk. Combining ex-smokers and lifelong non-smokers into a “current non-smokers” can result in misleading conclusions, because two groups of people may have different lung due to the long-term effects of smoking. For the same reason, we believe that future look at ex-users and non-users of the separately. the The to take contraceptives is a very personal one, and we emphatically support the Nations’ declaration that access to contraceptive information and services is human There are clear to using the pill many do not experience adverse We believe an need more research on this We do not believe that women are likely to when they take contraceptive pills. Thus, any blanket suggesting that teenagers should or should not a specific course of action regarding the use of hormonal contraceptives is, our opinion, do, however, hope that our research might prompt and their parents to to their doctors about the risks and benefits associated different that are to them, especially they have a history of depression reason to that might to certain side effects of these Shutterstock directions
.

Our findings suggest that the Use of oral cOntraCepTivEs DuriNg thE teenage years cAN havE an enduring effect on a woMan’s rIsK For dEPrEssioN, even yeARs AFTer ShE cEasEs USiNg theM.

ShUtterstOck

Women’s pRioR cOntraceptive USe

why, then, havE thEre been conflIctIng finDiNgs ON the rElaTionsHip betWEen conTraceptivE pILl use aND depresSIOn In thE past? We think that tHEsE Contradictions Could bE eXPlAINed By hOw researchErS grouPEd the woMEn THEY stUDied.

Because moSt researcheRS weRe primArIly INteresTed in ShORt-tErm effects oF conTraceptivE pills, THey grouPEd women Based oN whEthEr thEY wErE cuRrENtlY UsIng ORal ContracePtIvEs. ThoSe reSEARCherS diD not Take wOmen’s previous OraL conTRacEptivE use iNto aCcOunt aNd may hAve unInTentionally undeRestImated the EffEcTs oF cOntraCEptive PilL usE on deprEssion rISk.

SMoKING, fOr example, has long-teRm EFFeCts on lunG canceR RiSk. iF researcHeRs wEre oNLY to coMparE CuRrent smoKers veRSuS cUrrent nOn-SmokerS wIthOut TakinG Into ConsidEration wHetheR Someone is a formER smoker, they miGHt CONcLUde tHat There is no reLatiONshiP betWEeN smOKing aNd lunG cANcER risk. Combining ex-smoKeRs and lIfeloNg non-smokers iNto a single “CURRent non-sMokeRS” cATegory can resulT in miSleading coNClusions, BecauSe those tWo groups oF PEople may HavE diFfeRenT LUnG health due to tHE Long-TeRm effecTs oF smokinG.

FoR thE saMe rEaSon, we beliEve that fUtUrE rEsEarCh shoULd look at Ex-UseRs And LifelONg non-uSers oF the PiLl SEpaRately.

CHOoSINg thE pIlL

The DecIsIon to Take HOrmOnal conTraceptivEs iS A verY pErSonal onE, and we emphatiCaLly support ThE UnIted NaTIOns’ declaRation that access to contrACeptive InfOrmatIon aNd serviceS is A univeRsaL Human rIght. ThEre arE cLeaR BEnefiTS To UsiNg The pill and MANy wOmen dO nOt exPeriencE adverse side effectS.

we dO believe that tHerE is aN URgEnt NEeD For MoRE reSEArch on this topic. we do not belIeVE tHat all womeN Are LiKely to eXperienCe the SAme side Effects whEn they takE cOntrACEptIve pills. ThUs, any blaNket stateMEnt suGGeSting ThaT teenaGeRs sHould Or shouLD noT follOw a speCiFic couRse of AcTion regaRding the use of hormonal coNtracePtiveS is, In our opinIon, PRemAture.

We do, HoweVer, hope thaT ouR reSearcH miGHt proMpt tEEnS anD Their PareNTs to talk tO ThEir DOCtOrs about the RISKs aNd benEfiTS assocIateD with different optIOns that are avaiLablE TO thEm, eSPeciAlLy if they have a fAmiLy HIStory of dEpRession or otHer reasoN tO Think That thEy mighT be partICUlARly vulNeraBle To certain SidE eFFects of ThEsE MedicaTionS.

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FUTure DIRections
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Our findings suggest th at the use  of o ral  co nt race ptiv es during thet eena ge years can have an e nduri ng effe c ton awoman’s ri s k  fo rde pre ss i on , eve n y ears af ter she ce ase susing them.Sh utterstock 

W omen’s prior  co ntrace pt ive use
Why , the n, hav e  there  been con fl i ctingf indings o ntherelationship betw e en contraceptivepill u se an d dep res sion in th epast? We thin k  t h a t  th e se contradict ions couldb e e xplain ed  by how re searc he r s g rouped thewome n they st udied. 
Becaus e  most r esearc her s w erep ri ma ril yi nte r es ted inshort-te rm  e ffect s of c o n trac ept ivepills , they groupe d w omen bas ed on  whet herth ey we re cur rentl yusing oral cont race ptives. T hos eres ea rcher s  did n ottak e women ’s prev i ous  o r a l  c ontraceptive use i nt o ac count an d mayh av eu nintenti on all y un d e resti mate d  t he effec ts ofc on tr aceptiv epill u se  on  de press i on r isk.
Smoking,  fore xample, has lo n g-term effect s  o n lu n g ca nce r risk. Ifrese a rche rs w e re  on l y tocompa re cu r rent smokers versus  c urrent  non- smokers witho ut takingi n t o consid erat i on whether someon e isa former s m oker, th ey mi ght conc lude that t here isnorel ati ons h i pbetween smoki n g  and  l ung can cer  risk.Com bin ing  ex -s mokers an d lifelo ng  n on -s mok ers i n to a sin gl e “ cu rre nt no n -smoke rs” c ateg or yc anresulti nm i slea di ng  con clu si ons,beca u sethose t wo groups  of peop le  m ay have  different lu ng  health du etothe lo n g -term ef fects of smoking.

Fort he same  re ason,  webelieve t hat  futur e r e search  shoul d loo kate x -user s an d l if elong non- u s ers  of t he  pil l separ ately.

Choosing t h e p ill

The deci sio n to t ak e h o rm o nal  c o ntr a c eptives is a ve ry persona lo ne , and we e m pha ti cally s upportthe U n ited Na tions’ de claration  t hata c ces s to contr aceptive  informat i on an d  s ervic esis a u ni ver sal h uman r i ght . The re are  c lear b enefi ts  to usin g the pill and many wom en donot e xpe rience ad ver s e s ide effec ts.
We do bel iev e t hat t her e  is a n ur g en t n e ed fo r mo r e researc h  o n t h i stopic. We d o n otbelie vet hat al l wo men are likely to experience the  sam e sid e e f fect swhen they take  co nt r a ceptivepi lls. Thus,any blan ke t  stat ementsugges ting th a t  t e enager s sh oul d or shou ldno t  follow  a  s p ecific  cou rs e of a ctionr egar d i ng the use of ho rmona l contr a cep tives  i s, in o u r op inion, pre mature.

We  do, h owev er, h ope tha tour re sea rc h might pr o mpt teens  andtheir p ar ents  to  talkto t h e ir do ctor sabo ut the ri s k sa nd  b e nef itsassoc ia tedwith diff e rent opt ion s  that a re  av a i lablet ot h em, especi all y ift h ey have af amil y  h i story  of de pressi on or o t her  r eason t o t h i nk that t hey might bepa rtic ularly v ul nera bl e t ocertain side ef fects of  these m e d icatio ns. 
Shu t tersto ck 

Future dir ectio ns 
.

Our findings_suggest that_the use of oral_contraceptives during_the_teenage years_can_have an enduring_effect on a_woman’s risk for depression,_even years after_she_ceases using them.

Shutterstock

Women’s prior contraceptive use

Why, then, have there been conflicting findings on the_relationship_between contraceptive_pill_use_and depression in the past?_We think that these contradictions_could be_explained by how researchers grouped the women they_studied.

Because_most researchers were_primarily interested in short-term effects of contraceptive pills, they_grouped women based on whether they_were currently using_oral_contraceptives._Those researchers did not_take women’s previous oral contraceptive use_into account and may have unintentionally_underestimated the effects of contraceptive pill use_on depression risk.

Smoking, for example, has_long-term effects on lung cancer_risk. If_researchers were only to compare_current smokers versus_current non-smokers_without taking into_consideration whether someone is a former_smoker, they might_conclude that there is no relationship_between_smoking and lung_cancer_risk._Combining ex-smokers_and lifelong non-smokers_into_a single_“current_non-smokers” category can result in misleading_conclusions,_because those two groups of people may_have different lung health_due_to the long-term effects_of smoking.

For the same reason,_we believe that future research should_look at_ex-users and_lifelong non-users of the pill separately.

Choosing the pill

The decision to take_hormonal contraceptives is a very personal_one, and we emphatically_support the_United_Nations’ declaration that_access_to contraceptive_information and services is a universal human_right. There_are clear benefits to using the_pill and many women_do_not experience adverse side effects.

We do_believe that there is an urgent_need for more research on_this_topic._We do not believe that_all women are likely to experience_the same side_effects when they take contraceptive pills. Thus,_any_blanket statement suggesting that teenagers should_or_should not follow a specific course_of_action_regarding the use of hormonal_contraceptives is, in our opinion, premature.

We_do, however, hope that our research might prompt teens_and their parents_to talk to their doctors_about_the_risks and benefits associated with different options that are available_to them,_especially if they_have a family history of depression or other reason to_think that they might be particularly vulnerable_to certain side effects of these medications.

Shutterstock

Future directions