Does Skyla lead to depression?

This article will discuss if the birth control IUD Skyla causes people to become depressed. It will explain why some people may experience this, and what can be done when it happens.

Does Skyla lead to depression?

It is possible to be depressed when using Skyla, but it can also happen with other forms of hormonal birth control. The makers of Skyla put depression as a possible side effect of birth control.

The phase IV test of Skyla showed that depression can happen mostly to women between 20 and 29 years old, followed by women between 30 and 39 years old. As for the time they have been using Skyla, most of them feel depressed between 2 and 5 years of use, followed by women that have been using it between 1 and 2 years.

When reading what users have said, there have also been some reports in online forums by them that Skyla has led them to depression, and even weight gain. It seems that using a hormonal Intrauterine Device (IUD), such as Skyla, that slowly releases hormones, can have an impact on your mental health.

Some studies, such as a Danish one that was done in 2016, evaluated the prevalence of depression in women that take hormonal birth control, and women that don’t, between 15 and 34 years old. It showed that women that took birth control had a slightly higher chance of getting depressed.

Through the study, it was discovered that women between the ages of 15 and 19 were more susceptible to developing depression. But let’s understand more about how Skyla works in your body.

What is Skyla?

Skyla is an Intrauterine Device (IUD) that works as birth control. It uses the woman hormone progestin, and it can stay in your body for up to 3 years. The only dosage available for it is 13,5mg, and after 3 years, it should be changed.

Along with depression, Skyla can also lead to other side effects such as pain, bleeding, dizziness, and abdominal or pelvic pain. Along with that, women may also experience inflammation or itching of the vulva or vagina and irregular menstrual period.

Some women may develop acne, dry skin, changes in hair growth, and maybe some hair loss. The use of Skyla can lead to ovarian cysts, nausea, vomiting, weight gain, and bloating.

Aside from possibly causing depression, it can also lead to mood swings, headaches, and loss of interest in sex. It can make women experience breast tenderness or pain, along with vaginal discharge, and genital infection.

Some women may also experience skin swelling, rashes, or hives, along with back pain. Women should be aware that Skyla can come out on its own, and in those cases, you may become pregnant. 

Like any other form of medication, when you decide on Skyla as your form of birth control you should let your doctor know what other medications you take. This will let them know if one can interact with the other, and change what is necessary.

Aside from that, women that have Skyla as their way of birth control should not take grapefruit juice. Aside from that, women that get pelvic infections easily, or have certain forms of cancer should prevent from using Skyla.

Now let’s understand more about depression so you know what signs to keep an eye for.

What is depression?

Depression is a mental health condition that causes you to experience intense sadness. Aside from that, it can cause the person to feel empty, hopeless, guilty, and ashamed. It can also lead you to lose interest in things, even what you love. 

It makes it hard for you to focus, and your energy level may go down. You can experience intense fatigue, and become more irritable, and isolated. People with depression can experience changes in their eating and sleeping patterns and crying spells. 

Depression may lead people to experience pains, and consider self-harm, and it can sometimes cause people to have thoughts of death and even suicidal thoughts. And even though people don’t necessarily go through every symptom, to be diagnosed with the condition, you should experience them for more than 2 weeks.

And even though there is still a lot of research being done, it is known that depression may be related to some factors. It seems genetics can play a role in causing someone to develop depression, so someone with a family history of depression can be more susceptible to it.

Along with that, it seems that going through a traumatic situation, such as the loss of a loved one, or the end of a relationship, can make you depressed. And finally, it seems there is a chemical change in people with depression. This is what seems to be connected to why some women with Skyla are depressed.

When should I look for help? 

If you are using Skyla and you feel like you are developing depression, you may want to get in touch with your doctor. Discuss with them how you are feeling, and what are your options. A discussion may happen in a way to understand if it is better to change your form of birth control or manage the possible side effects of Skyla.

Aside from signs of depression, you should look for emergency care if you experience any allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face. Or if you experience intense pain in your lower stomach and to your side, since it can be related to tubal pregnancy.

You should also get in touch with your doctor if you experience severe cramps, or feel any pain during sexual intercourse. If you feel dizzy or light-headed, or experience an intense headache, you should also get in touch with them. 

In case of heavy or ongoing vaginal bleeding, sores, or discharge that seems unusual to you, as well as pale skin, weakness, easy bruising, or bleeding, you should inform your physician. In the same way, if you experience fever, or jaundice, which causes your eyes or your skin to become yellow, confusion, and problems with vision.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Does Skyla lead to depression? 

Will every woman develop depression when using Skyla? 

No, not every woman will develop depression when using Skyla. That is because each woman’s organism will behave differently when exposed to medications. You and your best friend may both be using Skyla, but you can feel depressed, and she may experience other side effects or even no side effects at all.

That is why it is so important to keep yourself informed about the possible side effects of medication. It allows you to know, once you have Skyla, what you should be looking out for. And especially what to do when you start to feel there may be something wrong with it.

What are the most common treatments for depression? 

Depression can be treated in multiple ways. Most people will take on the joint treatment of therapy and depression. The first one will allow you, through talking with a therapist, to understand your emotions better. 

It will help you create strategies to handle them more positively, and allow you to navigate depression better. The medication, that should be prescribed by a psychiatrist, will help decrease the intensity of your symptoms, and help reset that chemical imbalance that may be going through your brain.

Aside from that, you can make some changes in your lifestyle that can help you cope with depression. The first thing is to try and maintain a healthy lifestyle. You should try to eat and sleep well. This will improve your energy levels, and help you to keep some sense of structure.

Exercising is also important when you are feeling depressed. It can be something quick, like a short walk. But it will allow your stress levels to go down, and it can also improve your mood. 

Meditation or breathing exercises are also extremely helpful. They will allow you to focus on the moment, and move away from the negative thoughts depression can bring.

Being close to people you love is also important. They will give you the support, and a chance to vent about how you feel. It will also be an opportunity to distance yourself from the negative thoughts, as it will help you see yourself through their positive eyes.

And finally, to cope with depression, it may be a good idea for you to allow yourself to do things that can give you some sense of positive emotions. It can be that you take on volunteering, or hiking. 

But having something that makes you feel good, even if briefly, and that gives you some sense of accomplishment may be a huge help when you are depressed.

Should I take Skyla off if I feel depressed? 

The first thing to do, if you feel that Skyla is making you depressed, is to get in touch with your doctor. Make an appointment with them, and discuss how you have been feeling. They will let you in on what are the possibilities you have. 

They will weigh in your options, and maybe discuss with you other forms of birth control, may not hormonal ones, since those can increase your risk of developing depression. At this moment, you must ask all the questions you may have, to understand what are your possibilities.

Does depression have a cure?

No, depression doesn’t have a cure. Rather than that, mental health professionals say it goes into remission. When that happens, the person may regain control of their emotions and will be able to feel interested and joy about things.

It is considered that depression doesn’t have a cure, because it is impossible to say that a person will never experience depression again in their lifetime. Because of this, you need to keep caring for your mental health, even when you feel better.

Can only medication improve my depression?

No, it is usually the joint treatment of medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes that will cause you to get better. Although taking medication will improve your symptoms, and rearrange the chemical imbalance in your brain, if you don’t learn how to manage your emotions better, you will most likely relapse quickly.

It is impossible to avoid stress in life, so if you don’t take to therapy, and learn ways to deal with it differently, it will most likely lead you to depression once again.

Conclusion 

This article centered on explaining how Skyla, a form of birth control in IUD can cause some people to become depressed. It explained how Skyla works in your body, and when you should look for help to manage its side effects.

If you have any questions or comments about this article, feel free to write them in the section below.

References

https://www.healthline.com/health/birth-control/iuds-and-depression

https://www.rxlist.com/skyla-side-effects-drug-center.htm

https://www.ehealthme.com/ds/skyla/depression/