... to think the Pill is making me depressed?

[BettyCrockaShit]

Exactly that, really.

I started taking Marvellon about 9 months ago. All fine to begin with, but the last few months I've been very depressed on average two weeks of the month.

Everything else in life - job, partner etc. - all great. I've had depression before, so I know what it feels like, and when these two weeks strike it's devastating.

It's getting to the point where I'm miserable and tearful 14 days out of 28 for no real reason. I'm trying to keep a handle on my emotions, but it's incredibly hard!

Does anyone out there have a similar story/advice for an alternate Pill?

I had this experience with microgynon years ago. Tried the mini-pill too, same thing. Haven't been on hormonal contraception since. Doctors will be keen to tell you 1) that there is no evidence that the Pill causes depression and 2) that different versions of the drug suit different people, so it is worth a bit of trial and error. I remember hearing about a version of the Pill (can't remember the name, sorry) that agrees with most people, but doctors are reluctant to prescribe as it's very expensive. Worth pushing with your doctor, definitely.

Yip. After several years of use I started getting seriously depressed on the 1st week after the 7 day break. Changed to mini-pill which was great for ages. Then serious mood swings again which disappeared very shortly after I came off it.

I'm now on the mirena coil which seems to be suiting me and I wouldn't go back on oral birth control again if you paid me.

I had the same problem, just lower mood overall and when I stopped it got better.

I can’t do any version of the pill. It makes me depressed, unmotivated and kills my sex drive.

Yeah - me too. I’ve stopped marvellon two weeks ago. I was sad, angry. Depressed, no sex drive. IT WAS AWFUL.

It can definitely cause depression. The new style pops do it to me, almost instantly. The old ones and the combined pull are fine, strangely! It might be worth trying a different type to see if it might suit you better

Yes, in hindsight mine definitely did. It also killed my sex drive.

Actually there IS evidence that the Pill can cause depression.

Yep- on the pull for years, and only when we stopped it when TTC did I realise just how dull It made me feel.

I unfortunately had the same problem with mirena. (GP said it does cause problems in some despite allegedly not doing so). Copper coil now

pill

It made me angry, very angry. I had the most dreadful fit of rage one day, I almost went for my DC.

I had to walk out of the house and stay out for ten minutes to sort myself out. I threw my pills in the bin the same day.

Never took anything again. I got sterilised instead.

I was on marvelon once. Thought I was going mad. Mood swings & rages & depression.
Doctor said it couldn't be marvelon as it never had side effects.

Tried femodene- that's been fine for several years though I think it's causing issues now. (Though that could be meno)

I had the implant and it turned me crazy. Didnt realise how manic it had made me until I had it removed and then realised rapid mood swings and suicidal thoughts weren't a normal part of my life! Have been completely sane since it was removed

I can’t do any version of the pill. It makes me depressed, unmotivated and kills my sex drive

Totally agree. I can’t believe it can be that healthy to put so many hormones in to your body

I was on rigevidon for years, I stopped it in the summer as it made me anxious and stroppy and I had awful headaches.
I can't tell you how much better I feel off it

My dr wouldn't prescribe me any hormonal contraception because of the link to depression and my history.

I was put on marvalon about 8 years ago and hated it, it felt like I was watching myself go through these moodswings and acting very strange. At one point the confusion was so bad that I must have taken 4 tablets in a day as I couldn't remember taking it, that's when I stopped. I'm now pill free and so much happier.

It can definitely do this.
One that I was on made me irrationally angry. This new one I’m on made me grouch and have anxiety. I stopped for a week by accident and I mellowed out during that week and my anxiety levels went down. It doesn’t appear to have returned when I restarted it (So far)

Forgot to say I took myself off Marvalon after 3-4 weeks and went back on rigevidon

I recently changed from microgynon as I was too old for it 🤔 and got put on mini pill instead. Had really bad depressive periods and killer boobs and after 6m I opted for mirena instead. GP agreed that the pill was a likely culprit and since the coil I've been ok.

When I first started it I felt as if a cloud was hovering over my head for the first few months. But then I stopped noticing it. But I've just come off it after 8 years (side effects were getting a bit much) and...I feel...well, I FEEL. I've been cheerful more often this past month than in the whole 8 bloody years. So yeah...I think it's possible the pill made you miserable. It certainly muted my feelings. Pity my sex drive has come back too...typical xD

I was on microgynon for 14 years. Coming off it was one of the best things I ever did. I've suffered with anxiety for years. Came off the pill and it vanished!

The pill made me suicidal. I've never been suicidal at any other point in my life. It's surprisingly common but unpublicised. I recognise the dark cloud lifting feeling mentioned above.

Thank you all so much for sharing your stories. It's really comforting to know I'm not the only one - been wandering around the last few months feeling like I'm going crazy!

I'm going to make an appointment with the doctor to discuss other options. But for now, I'm stopping Marvellon for sure.

Yanbu
I didn’t know Marvelon was still going! I experienced this in the 90s. First and last time I took the pill. Also became fat-when I came off it, the weight fell off