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" Teenage girls taking the contraceptive Pill may double the risk of depression, a major study has found. All women had a higher risk of depression after taking the Pill, but it was teenage girls who were particularly sensitive to the contraceptive. Researchers believe that hormonal changes caused by the Pill could be a trigger of depression in the same way that the menstrual cycle affects a woman&amp;#039;s mood.  The Danish scientists from the University of Copenhagen looked at one million women aged 15 to 34 over a period of six years and found that those on the most popular combined Pill were almost one quarter (23%) more likely to be prescribed an antidepressant than non-users. And the risk rose dramatically to 80% among teenagers aged 15 \u2013 19 years old. Those using progesterone-only were at a 34% greater risk. Women using contraceptive patches containing the same hormone had twice that, while higher risks were also associated with hormonal rings and coils.   The Danish researchers, led by Dr Ojvind Lidegaard, from the University of Copenhagen, wrote in the journal Jama Psychiatry:  &amp;quot;Further studies are warranted to examine depression as a potential adverse effect of hormonal contraceptive use.&amp;quot; Over 100 million women worldwide take the Pill and around 3.5 million in the UK alone take some kind of oral contraceptive. Danish researchers have said that it could explain almost a fifth of depression cases in young women.  Dr Ali Kubba, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said women should not be alarmed by this study as all women react differently to different methods of contraception: &amp;quot;There are a variety of contraception methods on offer including the Pill, implants, injections, intrauterine devices, and vaginal rings and we therefore advise women to discuss their options with a doctor, where they will discuss the possible side-effects and decisions around the most suitable method can be made jointly.&amp;quot; And Dr Channa Jayasena, of the Society for Endocrinology, said the findings raised important questions but she urged caution over the recent finding. She said: &amp;quot;The study does not prove (and does not claim) that the pill plays any role in the development of depression. However, we know hormones play a hugely important role in regulating human behaviour. Given the enormous size of this study, further work is needed to see if these results can be repeated in other populations, and to determine possible biological mechanisms which might underlie any possible link between the pill and depression. Until then, women should not be deterred from taking the pill.&amp;quot;    So what&amp;#039;s the deal with the mini-pill?   The mini-Pill remains one of the most popular methods of birth control \u2013 though it&amp;#039;s still nowhere near as widely-used as the combined Pill. The big difference between the mini-Pill and the Pill, is that the mini-Pill contains only one hormone instead of two. This makes it milder than the regular combined Pill. What are the mini-Pill&amp;#039;s advantages? The main advantages of the mini-pill are:  It has fewer side-effects than the combined Pill. It can be taken at any age (unlike the combined Pill, which is generally &amp;#039;phased out&amp;#039; after the age of 35). It can be taken by breastfeeding women. It can be taken by smokers. It doesn&amp;#039;t raise your blood pressure. It can help to ease PMT (pre-menstrual tension).  What are the side-effects? Many women won&amp;#039;t get any side-effects at all. But the following side-effects can sometimes occur.  Discomfort in the breasts. Headache.  Dizziness. Slight weight gain. Spots.  Possibly depression. Possibly loss of sex drive \u2013 though this is uncertain.   It is always worth heading to your GP or local GUM clinic to speak about possible contraceptives and investing time to find one that works for you and your body. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/sexual-health/news/a27039/teen-girls-taking-the-pill-doubles-the-risk-of-depression/>