Do you think hormonal contraceptives and HRT increase mood swings?

Hormones powerfully affect our moods.  We can clearly see this as we watch anyone go through puberty, PMT or the menopause.  And most of our lives are governed by our menstrual cycle, giving us huge mood swings as estrogen and progesterone levels go up and down.  But does taking hormones through the pill, coil or HRT make our mood swings better or worse?

I took the pill for about 20 years and only much later when I stopped did I realise how it had seriously been affecting my mood.  And after going through the menopause, I felt ‘sane’ for the first time since puberty.  The powerful affect of estrogen and progesterone, whether given as a form of contraception or in my natural cycle, had been having a hugely adverse effect on my life.

This week we reported on a study that links the pill with depression.  And have previously written about the positive and negative effects of taking the pill.  We have reported on the decline in ovarian cancer due to oral contraceptive use.

A friend of mine has recently been trying out the Mirena coil, which releases a low dose of progesterone into the womb cavity.  She experienced huge mood swings, sometimes feeling she could not leave the house in case she cried.   NHS Direct says that the coil can result in “mood swings, skin problems or breast tenderness”.

Many studies are examining the effects of taking HRT which is given to reduce hot flashes and vaginal dryness. HRT contains oestrogen and progesterone, similar to the pill.   We have reported on a recent study which showed that HRT doubled the risk of  cancer.  You will see some reports saying that HRT reduces mood swings and some say it increases them.

But if we are trying to live lives that are more ‘natural’ and healthy, is adding hormones to our body the right thing to do?  Especially if they are adversely affecting our personalities?

Have you tried contraceptives that release hormones or been taking HRT?  Do you think it has made your mood swings better or worse?

Read More:

Global women – study links contraceptive pill to depression

Global women – how long have you been taking the oral contraceptive pill?

Global women – risks of HRT for the menopause still debated

Global women – menopause: lets talk about HRT

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