Can switching birth control cause anxiety?

Hi. It’s Jenny at AnxietyBoss.com. Our question today is from Jessica in Pineville, PA. Can switching birth control cause anxiety?

Young women are lucky today. They have access to a number of effective and safe birth control methods and if they are unhappy and dissatisfied with the one, they can switch to another one that works for them. Each one comes with its own warnings and side effects which can be weight gain, fatigue and depression, as well as a greater risk of pregnancy at the time of switching pills. All hormonal birth control methods carry certain risks and some of these can be blood clots, high blood pressure, stroke, and liver ailments.

Can switching birth control cause anxiety? Yes. Before starting with birth control, it is important to know how the different hormone containing contraceptives can affect your physical and mental health. The mix of synthetic hormones found in birth control wreak havoc with your moods. They contain certain amounts of lab formulated estrogen and progesterone which can exacerbate depression and anxiety. This is because of the effect hormones have on the balance of your feel good neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin, GABA, dopamine and norepinephrine. Too little estrogen causes a dip in serotonin. The ovaries produce less estrogen and anxiety and depression sets in.

Switching birth control causes anxiety because of estrogen dominance or increased amounts of estrogens and not enough of progesterone in the body. Changing pills alters the hormone levels of the body causing depression and moodiness in many women. Most women who aren’t satisfied with their birth control methods give psychological side effects as the reason for wanting to switch their birth control options.

Speak to your doctor about your feelings and the need to change to a contraceptive which will fit your lifestyle and leave you feeling in control of your life.