Conditions Back ConditionsDrugs & Supplements Back Drugs & SupplementsWell-Being Back Well-BeingMore Back More Privacy & More Subscribe Log In Search Subscribe GuideOverview Types Hormonal Methods Barrier Methods Behavioral MethodsMedical MethodsMale Birth ControlEmergency ContraceptionSide Effects & Complications View Full Guide How Hormonal Birth Control Can Affect Your MoodWritten by Medically Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on May 17, 20243 min readLots of people get irritable, depressed, or feel out of sorts just before their monthly periods. These can be symptoms of a common condition called (PMS).But could your and other hormonal trigger similar emotional swings? Or might they actually improve your mood?How Hormonal Contraceptives WorkMost , patches, and rings combine two lab-made female sex hormones, estrogen and progestin. “Minipills” have only progestin, and in a smaller amount.Combined hormonal contraceptives stop the normal rise and fall of your body’s natural hormones. That blocks your body from and releasing an egg to be fertilized by sperm.Is There a Link Between Birth Control and Emotions?People have complained about mood-related changes like and ever since the pill came out in 1960. The newest generation of pills have lower doses of hormones. Even so, a sizeable number still quit the pill because of side effects.During a typical 28-day menstrual cycle, estrogen levels reach their peak around day 14. That’s when many feel their best emotionally and physically. Most hormonal contraceptives smooth this mountain-shaped hormonal cycle into an even line for the first 21 days. Then the levels of estrogen and progestin plunge during the final 7 days.Limited research suggests that compared with women who don’t use hormonal , those who do are more likely report feeling depressed, anxious, and angry. But those symptoms don’t make the list of common side effects. Other studies have turned up no significant link between hormone combinations or concentrations and differences in mood. Still more research has found that women on the pill and those taking dummy pills report similar symptoms, suggesting that any effects they noticed were unrelated to the actual pills.BenefitsDoctors sometimes prescribe hormonal contraceptives to ease the discomfort some feel at one point or another during their monthly periods.Symptoms of can include:Angry outburstsCrying spellsConfusionFeeling down or depressedYou might also have:CrankinessTender breastsAches and painsBloating or The FDA has approved combination birth control pills drospirenone and ethinyl (Yaz) and drospirenone, ethinyl , and levomefolic acid (Beyaz) to treat a more serious form of called . But the hormones may work better to ease physical symptoms than mood-related ones. It also can take some trial and error for your doctors to hit the right medication and dosage.Possible ExplanationsIf scientists can’t firmly connect the dots between birth control hormones and emotional turbulence, why do some people believe there’s a link?Greater sensitivity to changes to levels of estrogen and other hormones from the need to avoid and to take the pill as prescribedHeightened perception of possible symptoms among people with existing , anxiety, or other conditionsWhen to See a DoctorIf your mood swings are mild or moderate, these may bring you relief: Healthier eating Relaxation techniques such as massage, yoga, and biofeedback Other lifestyle changesSee your doctor if you feel depressed, feel no energy, or have other severe symptoms that impact with your daily life.SourcesUpdate HistorySharePrintSOURCES:American Family Physician: “Do the emotional side-effects of hormonal contraceptives come from pharmacologic or psychological mechanisms?” “Managing Adverse Effects of Hormonal Contraceptives.”Medical Hypotheses: “Do the emotional side-effects of hormonal contraceptives come from pharmacologic or psychological mechanisms?”Mayo Clinic: “Combination Birth Control Pills.”Contraception: “The relationship between progestin hormonal contraception and depression: a systematic review.”International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: “Do Progestin-Only Contraceptives Contribute to the Risk of Developing Depression as Implied by Beta-Arrestin 1 Levels in Leukocytes? A Pilot Study.”American Society for Reproductive Medicine: “Hormonal Contraception.”Womenshealth.gov: “What happens during the typical 28-day menstrual cycle?” “Premenstrual syndrome (PMS),” “Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).”UpToDate: “Patient education: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) (Beyond the Basics).”JAMA Psychiatry: “Association of Hormonal Contraception With Depression.”American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: “FAQ: Combined Hormonal Birth Control: Pill, Patch, and Ring,” “Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).”The European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care: “Contraceptive use and behavior in the 21st century: a comprehensive study across five European countries.”CDC: “National Health Statistics Reports: Contraceptive Methods Women Have Ever Used: United States, 1982-2010.”Harvard Health Publishing: “Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: When it’s more than just PMS.”SharePrintNext In Side Effects & ComplicationsShow more articles More on Birth Control Recommended FEATURED Top doctors in , Find more top doctors on Search Related LinksPoliciesAboutFor Advertisers © 2005 - 2025 WebMD LLC, an company. All rights reserved. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. , Many women say birth control affects their mood. But the evidence is mixed. Here’s what researchers know about the link between hormonal birth control and your emotions., Hormonal birth control can cause mood changes. Synthetic versions of the hormones estrogen and progesterone are contained in birth control. Some people taking birth control may experience mood changes, including depression, because these hormones affect brain function..