A new study shows that the pill is linked to depression – so what should women do?

Strong links between the pill and depression have confirmed what many women have long suspected. So why are female contraceptives still so rubbish – and when will they finally get on with male ones?

By Stephanie Boland

Another day, another piece of scientific news that has women everywhere going “duh” as a new study reveals a link between the female contraceptive pill and depression.

While it may seem obvious that a medicine which impacts on hormone levels can have an effect on mood, the research, undertaken in Denmark, shows stronger links than some may have expected. Its study of over a million women aged 15-34 found that those taking a combined contraceptive pill are 23% more likely to use antidepressents than those that do not. That statistic was even higher for the progesterone-only pill (34%), the patch (100%), and the vaginal ring (60%).