New Mothers Using Hormonal Contraceptives Face Slightly Higher Depression Risk, Study Finds

Experts say the absolute risk difference is minimal.
New Mothers Using Hormonal Contraceptives Face Slightly Higher Depression Risk, Study Finds
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New mothers who begin using hormonal contraceptives within a year of childbirth may face nearly double the risk of developing depression, according to a new study of more than 610,000 women.

Despite a nearly 50 percent increase in relative risk, experts urge caution, emphasizing that the actual absolute difference is minimal. This needs to be considered alongside the significant reproductive health benefits that contraception offers during the postpartum period.

George Citroner
George Citroner
Author
George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.