Do Tell: How Does Hormonal Birth Control Affect Your Mood?

October 23, 2008

Though I do think hormonal birth control options, like the pill and NuvaRing, are great methods of contraception, I’ll be the first to admit that the fluctuation in hormones can definitely cause feelings of irritability and depression. Of course much of it depends on the dosage, as well as how your body handles it. So ladies, do tell: Have you found yourself fighting with your moodiness after going on hormonal birth control? Or does it actually improve your moods?

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54 Comments

bekahnz 1 year 44 weeks

Scary to read all of these posts!! I came off my pill (estelle aka dianne 35 or ginet) after being on it for about 10 years, I read that you're only supposed to take it for 3-6 months as its more for skin issues. I've had ongoing problems with anxiety, over the last few months it got to the point where I didn't want to go out anymore and I turned into a psycho nutter and nearly walked out on my partner of 3 years who is also the father of my kids. I stopped taking the pill and now 5 days later, hubby is always commenting how he has his gf back and how normal I am!! So to sum it up, birth control made me: -depressed -suicidal (during my period mainly) -insecure -paranoid -tired ALLL the time -irritable And goodness knows what else.. My former GP tried to tell me I had bi-polar type 2 and gluten intolerance. WTF?!?!?! Turns out everything was because of birth control. I'm actually enjoying my life now :o)

bekahnz 1 year 44 weeks

Scary to read all of these posts!!I came off my pill (estelle aka dianne 35 or ginet) after being on it for about 10 years, I read that you're only supposed to take it for 3-6 months as its more for skin issues. I've had ongoing problems with anxiety, over the last few months it got to the point where I didn't want to go out anymore and I turned into a psycho nutter and nearly walked out on my partner of 3 years who is also the father of my kids. I stopped taking the pill and now 5 days later, hubby is always commenting how he has his gf back and how normal I am!!So to sum it up, birth control made me:-depressed-suicidal (during my period mainly)-insecure-paranoid-tired ALLL the time-irritableAnd goodness knows what else.. My former GP tried to tell me I had bi-polar type 2 and gluten intolerance. WTF?!?!?! Turns out everything was because of birth control. I'm actually enjoying my life now :o)

2 years 22 weeks

I have been on the pill for two months at the same time my husband came home from a seven month deployment. My mood swings have been incredible, I go into a depression that I've never experienced before and my husband said I've changed a lot. It is so awful so I am getting off, its not worth it! I heard about spermicides? Anyone else?heard its 98% effective and no side effects! I think ill try it!

2 years 29 weeks

It is a relief to realise, that so many have similar experiences on the pill, not just on this forum, but on every forum, I have stumbled across, I was considering going on a pill again, just for peace off mind, I have two small children and want no more, however, I have thankfully changed my mind. I once read a book, about a girl, who took severe depression from BC, she was sent to Phycologists etc , on a string off drugs, with major side effects, ended up in a mental institute!, ok, majorily extreme story, that would be rare, however, what Im trying to say is, so many women underestimate the BC pill and think there is something Psychologically wrong, ended up on medication they DONT NEED. There needs to be more infor available for women on these issues and more advice from Doctors, who seem to hand them out like sweets. My friend who is so happy go lucky was severly depressed for such a long time on these pills. Which leaves us with the problem of unwanted pregnancies and abortions, maybe it's the mens turn to turn their bodies upside down with "FAKE HORMONES". Maybe the depressive side affects are our bodies rejecting the foreign substance????.

2 years 35 weeks

I've been on Seasonique for a week today, and it has made my hormones crazy. I go from being really mad, to sad and crying in like a minute. Everything someone says affects me and it's taking a huge toll on my boyfriend and i's relationship.

2 years 38 weeks

Oh my goodness this crap makes me so evil. It's awful not having any control over your emotions, theyre alllll over the place.

2 years 50 weeks

I have been on Ortho Tri Cyclin for 5 months. And at first the side effects were terrible. I always had really bad headaches and horrible stomach aches. Once those went away, my mood wend downhill. I cried over nothing and I got really depressed. I think I'm going to go off birth control for awhile, and see if that makes a difference. This is really affecting my life. Thanks all you guys for posting, because I realize it's not just me.

3 years 8 weeks

I just started having sex a month ago. I decided that the smart thing to do would be to go on birth control, and after weighing my options I decided that the NuvaRing was best for me. The hormones are completely throwing me off course. I had blue days before, but now I'll cry profusely over nothing or tear up over the slightest problem. Also, I'm more aggressive than I can ever remember being in my life. I am going to talk to my doctor about a barrier method because I am convinced that the hormonal contraceptives are just no good for me.

3 years 37 weeks

I just started a progesterone-only pill (Camila) and I've really been feeling overly depressed and ready to cry...and randomly fighting with my boyfriend about nothing. He's asking me every night if I'm ok and if something's wrong and then I want to cry b/c there is nothing wrong but I can't explain it! I'm fearful the switch from the combo pill to the "mini-pill" isn't for the better.

3 years 43 weeks

I just started the nuvaring...and find myself EXTREMEMLY irritable..like almost uncontrollable...I am also bi-polar and regularly take my meds...does anyone know if this could be a contributing factor in my mood?

3 years 45 weeks

I am so happy that there are other ppl that feel the same way that I do, but i feel sorry for all of you that are having the mood swings and depression and no sex drive like me. I think it has totally ruined the quality of life. Im 23 years old and have been on bc since i was 16 and although it has taken years for me to be like this it just feels so aweful. Always feeling sad and feeling like I cant enjoy anything. I am going to stop taking bc after my last pill and am so hoping that I will feel better.

3 years 49 weeks

Omg I just recently moved to new jersey to be with my fiance while he finishes school. Then we will move back to my home town in florida together. Well I have been on yaz it made me so depressed and my mom was ready to get me counseling thought i was having major issues. Then I went on Ortho Tri Cyclin lo and it made me have weird side effects like stomach pains and fatique and headaches. Now I am on Loestrin which I started when I moved here going on 6 months ago. i have had one period which i thought was weird and was about to go off it anyway. Well i have been a total basket case up here crying over every little thing you can think of. My fiance was leaving for work and I thought he wasnt leaving for another hour I started crying! He and I both were just ready to break up and I got on here and read all these posts and it made me remember how crazy I was on the yaz and im even worse on the loestrin. Birth Control is definately not for me! THank god I realised it, i about lost the man of my dreams! haha

elliegator 4 years 27 weeks

Thanks to everyone who wrote in. I am experiencing some serious mood swings while I am having my period. I become so absent minded it is ridiculous! I also become very insecure and depressed. I wonder if it has to do with my birth control...I have tried different, ortho-tricycline lo, ring, and others...they all seem to have the same effects. After talking to a co-worker and seeing these posts...maybe it is time to take a break and see if my mood swings are caused by BC and improve. Anyone have the same issue?

Oinkeyyy 4 years 28 weeks

btw have you ladies heard that APPARENTLY taking the pill changes the type of men that you are attracted to?/ screws up women's natural "mate-finding" abilities? hmmm....

Oinkeyyy 4 years 28 weeks

btw have you ladies heard that APPARENTLY taking the pill changes the type of men that you are attracted to?/ screws up women's natural "mate-finding" abilities?hmmm....

Oinkeyyy 4 years 28 weeks

I've been on and off tricyclen lo for 2 years now... the first time I took it it made me bloated and crabby for the first month and then I got rid of acne and lost some weight- When I broke up with my boyfriend I was so depressed that I thought I would live a sexless life for the rest of my life- and ditched the pill. [Before the pill i had severe anger issues and moodswings, not so much bipolar as you're all probably thinking... it was more of i would only get mad about certain things (usually I had a happy span of a month before i'd get into a funk) but boy once I was mad I would literally feel the need to strangle somebody/scream/cry and throw a tantrum.. my entire body would feel like it was on fire.. anyways I would also get really sad like that too, as well as happy.. I guess you could call it extreme moods.] BUT moral of my novel is that when i was on the pill my moods leveled out and I find that I am an extremely mellow person and I'm rational and level headed... when I was off the pill I went crazy... so crazy that I got on the pill purely for the sanity and peace that came with it... I've been dating the same guy for almost 7 months now anyways, so my pill-taking is somewhat more justified than lying to my gyno to get a quick fix for my madness, yes I realize theres something wrong with that but for now it's fine.

Oinkeyyy 4 years 28 weeks

I've been on and off tricyclen lo for 2 years now... the first time I took it it made me bloated and crabby for the first month and then I got rid of acne and lost some weight-When I broke up with my boyfriend I was so depressed that I thought I would live a sexless life for the rest of my life- and ditched the pill.[Before the pill i had severe anger issues and moodswings, not so much bipolar as you're all probably thinking... it was more of i would only get mad about certain things (usually I had a happy span of a month before i'd get into a funk) but boy once I was mad I would literally feel the need to strangle somebody/scream/cry and throw a tantrum.. my entire body would feel like it was on fire..anyways I would also get really sad like that too, as well as happy.. I guess you could call it extreme moods.]BUT moral of my novel is that when i was on the pill my moods leveled out and I find that I am an extremely mellow person and I'm rational and level headed... when I was off the pill I went crazy... so crazy that I got on the pill purely for the sanity and peace that came with it...I've been dating the same guy for almost 7 months now anyways, so my pill-taking is somewhat more justified than lying to my gyno to get a quick fix for my madness, yes I realize theres something wrong with that but for now it's fine.

ilanac13 4 years 29 weeks

i've stopped using the 'hormonal' versions because they don't sit well with my psyche and my body. i think that there are a lot of alternatives that you can look to these days that it's almost ok to move away from things like that.

pixelhaze 4 years 29 weeks

wow Hiding55 that's so funny you say that because for me it's the opposite, I went on Yaz and was crying at everything!!

pixelhaze 4 years 29 weeks

wow Hiding55 that's so funny you say that because for me it's the opposite, I went on Yaz and was crying at everything!!

cjmara805 4 years 29 weeks

Improves my mood... but at the same time I don't have much emotion anymore.

campgirl84 4 years 29 weeks

i've been on the ring since january and have not dealt with any unusual moodiness. the week before i can tell i get a bit more emotional, but that's pretty standard for me. that and feeling hungry all the time! lol

karlotta 4 years 29 weeks

Wow, reading your comments, I feel like the lightbulb went on. I had never even correlated the two (!!!!) but since I changed BC (from the pill to the ring) I've been more depressed, more emotional, or plain BATSHIT CRAZY for 4 days a month - and never thought it was due to the different hormone regimen!?!?!?It's been almost 3 years, and I thought it was just "turning 30" that made me like a sappy insane bitch: - The butterly is deaaaaaaad, why did you let the butterfly diiiiiiiiiiie - honey, butterflies only live for a couple of days, it's not my fault! - yes it iiiiiiiiiiiiis, you're such an asshoooooooooooleTime for a call to my gynecologist.

karlotta 4 years 29 weeks

Wow, reading your comments, I feel like the lightbulb went on. I had never even correlated the two (!!!!) but since I changed BC (from the pill to the ring) I've been more depressed, more emotional, or plain BATSHIT CRAZY for 4 days a month - and never thought it was due to the different hormone regimen!?!?!? It's been almost 3 years, and I thought it was just "turning 30" that made me like a sappy insane bitch: - The butterly is deaaaaaaad, why did you let the butterfly diiiiiiiiiiie - honey, butterflies only live for a couple of days, it's not my fault! - yes it iiiiiiiiiiiiis, you're such an asshooooooooooole Time for a call to my gynecologist.

mix tape 4 years 29 weeks

I am never doing hormonal birth control again. I have tried many types... the patch, pill, the ring...everything! They all leave me with terrible mood swings. Any little comment would make me cry. I was so depressed I wouldn't want to do anything or talk to anyone! The months I spent trying to find a BC that worked for me were some of the lowest times I have been through in my life. I put a major strain on my relationship being so depressed. My sex drive was also lowered dramatically. Being on BC just isn't something that is worth it to me.

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