Can Sprintec make me depressed?
By
OptimistMinds
As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.
Author bio
The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
This article will center around the birth control pill called Sprintec that can lead women to develop depression. For that, the article will explain how Sprintec works, its side effects, and what should be taken into consideration before you start taking it.
Can Sprintec make me depressed?
Yes, it is possible that the use of Sprintec, a birth control pill, will cause you to get depressed. This can happen as a side effect of Sprintec, and other types of hormonal birth control.
Although it seems to be rare, around 5% of people using Sprintec develop depressive symptoms, and in a clinical trial only 2,4% of users stopped taking Sprintec because they felt it affected their mood, and led to depressive symptoms.
But the most common depression symptoms felt when taking Sprintec are: discouragement, feeling sad, empty, and more irritable. It can also lead you to experience a loss of interest or pleasure in things, and you may become more tired, have trouble sleeping, and focus.
What is Sprintec?
Sprintec is a birth control pill that is used to prevent pregnancy. Sprintec is its commercial name, and it is a mix of norgestimate, a compound of progesterone, and Ethinylestradiol. Aside from being used as birth control, Sprintec can also be used to treat cases of severe acne.
It comes in tablets that should be taken once a day, for 28 days. Once you start, for the first 7 days, you should use other forms of contraceptives as well. Until it is effective in your body. You should take it at the same time every day.
The 21 first pills you take have the birth control effect, they are the blue ones, as for the other 7 white ones, they are just reminder pills. This means you will only take it to keep the habit of taking birth control, and after that, you start a new cycle, opening a new blister card.
When you take birth control with a low dose of progesterone it will prevent the egg from being released from the ovary. It will also make your cervical mucus thicker, which can make it harder for the sperm to travel in it, and fertilize the egg.
What are the side effects of Sprintec?
Aside from being able to lead people to depression, the use of Sprintec can also lead to other side effects. The most common ones are stomach pain, gas, nausea, and vomiting. Aside from that, it can lead to breast tenderness, and acne, and make the skin on your face darker.
So of the more serious side effects, that should cause you to look for a doctor right away are: headaches or you become more nervous, as it can change your weight, or experience breakthrough bleeding.
It can lead to vaginal discharge and even rashes. You may also experience chest pain, constipation, fever, pain or swelling of the leg, and a change of heartbeat rhythm.
You should also look for a doctor right away if you experience sweating, vomiting blood, trouble breathing, pounding in the ears, slurred speech, or loss of coordination. Finally, look for a doctor if you experience vaginal bleeding unrelated to the menstrual period, dark urine, and clay-colored stools.
What should be taken into consideration before taking Sprintec?
As with most forms of medication, before you start taking Sprintec, you should let your doctor know of all the medications you take. That is because Sprintec may interact with any of them, which can reduce how effective it is, and can lead you to an unexpected pregnancy.
Why can birth control lead to depression?
Hormonal birth controls, such as Sprintec, are made with a form of progesterone. This form of hormone can often lead to a change in a person’s mood. But there have been a lot of studies still trying to determine why, and how this happens.
Some studies, like one done with American women, showed that the use of contraceptives can even improve women’s mood. The information around this is so conflicted that you should use your own experience as truth.
If you are taking Sprintec or any form of hormonal birth control, and you start to feel depressed, it is important to assess how intense the side effect has been, and what are the benefits of the medication.
Remember to always discuss it with your doctor. And don’t blame yourself. Depression is the number one reason why women discontinue birth control. And everybody works differently. It is only by trying birth control that you will be able to know how it will affect you.
So if this happens to you, make an appointment with your doctor and discuss with them what other options you have. Understand if you also need to prevent Sexual Transmitted Disease (STD), and what are other forms of birth control available that suit your need.
Caring for your sexual health shouldn’t be something that affects your mental health. Find a good professional, and discover what works best for you at the moment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Can Sprintec make me depressed?
What can change when I go off birth control pills?
Once you decide to quit taking birth control pills, you can start to realize some changes. One thing you can start to see is that you might develop hormonal acne. This can happen for a while after you stop taking the birth control pill, but it usually gets better. If yours doesn’t improve after a couple of months, you can look for a skin doctor.
Some people also develop hair loss after they quit the pill. But this often stops after a while. If you experience that while in the process, try to manage your stress levels, and don’t expose your hair to things that can be bad for its health.
You can also experience some mood swings as you go off the pill. But those also seem to get better after a while. You can begin to feel that during your PMS your mood swings will become more intense.
So try to have a conversation about it with your partner so it doesn’t harm your relationship. Aside from that, try to stay away from stimulant drinks, and find some activities, such as meditation, that will help you deal with your mood.
Some women have reported experiencing better mental clarity when they go off the birth control pill, which leads them to become more productive. The anxiety and depression that can come with birth control seem to also vanish once you stop taking them.
What are other forms of birth control?
If you feel that the hormonal birth control pill didn’t work for you, know that there are some other ways to prevent you from getting pregnant.
You can decide to use a Nonhormonal copper IUD, this form of birth control can stay with you for up to 10 years. But some people may have trouble with it because the insertion of it can be a little painful.
Other people can also consider using condoms. It is important to have in mind that this form of birth control will not only prevent you from getting pregnant, but it is the only one that will prevent you from getting any form of Sexual Transmitted Disease (STD).
You can also use the fertility awareness method (FAM), through this you will be able to know your body better and understand when you are at risk of becoming pregnant.
And there are also some more permanent methods to prevent pregnancy. For example, you can consider doing permanent sterilization, through a medical procedure, you will be able to have intercourse without worrying about getting pregnant.
Can the same birth control lead to different effects on people?
Yes, two women using the same birth control pill can have different side effects. This is why it is so important for you to have a doctor you trust, and have the information about the possible side effects your birth control can cause you.
So as you start to take it, you can notice the side effects you will develop. It can be that for you they are extremely intense, but your friend can feel absolutely nothing.
If you realize that your side effects are too intense, or haven’t improved after a while, you should get in touch with your doctor. In talking with them, you will be able to weigh your options and understand if you must change your form of birth control, or if the side effects are something you can tolerate in your life.
What is the best birth control pill if I have a lot of acne?
If you are considering taking birth control pills not only to prevent you from getting pregnant but also because you have a lot of acne, you may want to try Yaz. This pill seems to be the best one when dealing with acne.
That is because they are rich in drospirenone, a synthetic version of progesterone, a hormone that is usually released when you have sexual intercourse. This will help to treat acne as it blocks the effects of testosterone, which is a type of androgen.
Is it harder to lose weight while I am taking birth control pills?
It is not possible to affirm with certainty if losing weight will be easier or harder as you are taking a birth control pill. This is often a subjective experience. As with any other side effects of birth control pills, it has been found that some people will gain weight when they take it and find it harder to lose that weight.
For other people, taking birth control pills can lead them to lose weight. And they may not have trouble losing it during that time. That is why it is so important to consider your needs before you start taking birth control pills.
You can’t know the effect it has on you until you start taking it. And if you feel the side effects have been too negative for you, you can get in touch with your doctor and discover if there are any other options for you.
Conclusion
This article centered around the birth control Sprintec, and how it can make women develop depression. The article showed how Sprintec works on your body, what are its side effects, and what should be taken under consideration before using it.
If you have any questions or comments about this article, feel free to write them in the section below.
References
https://www.drugs.com/sfx/sprintec-side-effects.html
https://www.rxlist.com/sprintec-drug.htm
Katherine M. Keyes, Keely Cheslack-Postava, Carolyn Westhoff, Christine M. Heim, Michelle Haloossim, Kate Walsh, Karestan Koenen, Association of Hormonal Contraceptive Use With Reduced Levels of Depressive Symptoms: A National Study of Sexually Active Women in the United States, American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 178, Issue 9, 1 November 2013, Pages 1378–1388, https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwt188
Was this helpful?
Overcome Depression and Find Joy in Life Again with BetterHelp
