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Depression and the Pill

So many women who use the pill as a form of birth control because it is the easiest method to use. They don't seem to be aware that using the pill can affect their mood as much as the chemical imbalances that cause depression. For someone who is already a depressive they may be adding to their symptoms without even realizing it. The pill can be a real problem in the ongoing battle of depression. Studies have shown that potentially thirty percent of women on the pill will have to deal with symptoms of depression. The bigger problem is that physicians spend too much time telling them its nothing. Women who complain of mood swings when on the pill are either told its normal and to ignore it or have their pill changed in the expectation that a different level of hormones will make it all okay.

Most health care providers forget to mention that using the pill diminishes the body's zinc, the vitamin Bs and essential fatty acid levels. It also affects the body's cooper levels by making them go up higher. None of these are good for a woman. That is especially true because vitamin B6, nicknamed the stress vitamin, is known to be essential in fighting depression, mood swings and feeling stressed. Studies have shown that taking the pill effectively impedes the capability of the women's brain to absorb serotonin. Everyone needs serotonin to properly filter through the brain as it is the body' self made happy chemical.

Each package of contraceptive pills comes with an explanation of how to use them and what possible side effects a woman can expect. But truthfully how many times do they get read. Most women open the package, toss out the instructions and begin their cycle. But they should read it because these inserts will give women a hint as to why they feel the way they do. The inserts mention that depression and increased PMS symptoms can be a side effect of taking the pill. They also mention that vitamin B12 levels can be diminished by being on the pill and that a dietary supplement should be considered. As well these inserts usually tell the user that women who have a history or depression or other emotional disturbances may find them worsened or recurring because of using the pill.

So, why is it that the health care provider doesn't recommend vitamin supplements to women on the pill? It is not like there is a not lot of proof of these difficulties. Studies have shown that eight out of ten women have used the pill at some time in their lives. Further, currently four out of ten women between eighteen and twenty four currently use the pill as their chosen method of birth control. That makes for a lot of women using something that can aggravate a potentially already difficult situation. Too many doctors report increased depression for women on the pill. It seems time to make that information better known.