Fewer suicide attempts in women using hormonal contraceptives

Women, especially younger women, have higher rates of depression and attempted suicide than men of similar ages. Many women using hormonal contraceptives, especially contraceptive pills, report mood changes as a side effect. Initial reports from 2018 and 2020 had indicated that use of hormonal contraceptives was associated with a higher number / risk of suicides and suicide attempts.

A recent study shows that rates of attempted suicides in women using hormonal contraception are actually lower than in women who do not use hormonal contraception. The study was presented at the European Congress of Psychiatry.

Results were seen from 587,823 women, which represents around 50% of the total number of women in the 15-49 age group. Half of these women had used hormonal contraceptives, including pills, implants, patches, and rings.

The research team found that attempted suicide rates between hormonal contraceptive users and non-users were similarly high in women between 15-19, but suicide rates dropped in older age groups, with a greater drop in hormonal contraceptive users relative to non-users.

In total the researchers saw 474 cases of attempted suicide in women who didn't use hormonal contraceptives. Women not using contraceptives had a 37% greater odds of attempting suicide in comparison with those using hormonal contraceptives.