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Oral Contraceptive Use Associated With Reduced Depression Risk
Current users of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) may have more of a reduced risk of major depression than those who formerly or have never used OCPs, according to a recent cross-sectional study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
“The prevalence of major depression among women using OCP may be lower than in former users of OCP, however, the burden of depression remains high,” authors noted. “Further research with longitudinal follow-up for depression in women using OCP is needed to understand real-world effect of the OCP on depression.”
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Researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2012 to examine the prevalence and correlates of major depression in women using OCPs. Major depression was defined as a score of ≥10 using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
A total of 6239 women ages 18 to 55 years participated in the study, including 1742 never users (27.9%), 3823 former users (61.3%), and 674 current users (10.8%). Current OCP users had a lower depression prevalence (4.6%; 95% CI) compared to former users of OCP (11.4%; 95% CI) and never users of OCP (1%; 9% CI). Current users were also less likely to report depression than former users (OR 0.59; 95% CI) after adjusting for socioeconomic and behavioral characteristics and chronic conditions. Women who were Black or Hispanic, widowed/divorced/separated, low and middle income, smokers, current users of antidepressants, and had a history of cancer and thyroid problems also had a higher depression prevalence.
“The significant inverse association between OCP use and major depression can be confounded by the survivor effect in that women who experience severe symptoms of depression are possibly likely to discontinue OCP use, while those who experience mild depressive symptoms or no symptoms at all continue use,” researchers concluded. “This possibility is further supported by the fact that there was no difference in major depression between women who use OCP and those who never used OCP.”
