A bold warning: the pill, long celebrated for giving women control over reproduction and unlocking educational and career opportunities, may carry an overlooked mental health cost. A new study suggests that using the contraceptive pill during adolescence is linked to a higher risk of depression later on, particularly for women who are genetically predisposed to mental illness. This fresh research from the University of Copenhagen builds on prior work from the same institution, which had already noted connections between hormonal contraception and mental health concerns.
Published in the Journal of Labor Economics (https://doi.org/10.1086/730162), the study examines thousands of American women by merging data on legislation, genetic risk, and life trajectories. It finds that those with a higher genetic risk for depression experience notably worse mental health outcomes if they used the contraceptive pill during their teenage years. The researchers emphasize that not every user will be affected, but for genetically vulnerable individuals, the pill can act as a trigger for mental health issues.
Moreover, the research shows these negative mental health effects can erode some of the pill’s potential benefits in education and long-term job attachment. In practical terms, high-risk individuals who had access to hormonal contraception during adolescence tended to attain fewer years of schooling, showed lower work productivity, and reported more sick days and functional limitations.
Franziska Valder, the study’s lead author and an assistant professor at the Department of Economics and CEBI (Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality), stresses that the findings are not a call to discard the pill. Instead, they advocate for a more nuanced discussion about contraception and health. She notes that the goal isn’t to deny access but to acknowledge possible side effects and to tailor approaches for those at greater risk. The team calls for more research into non-hormonal alternatives and improved screening for mental vulnerability.
The timing of the release adds urgency, as debates over abortion access in the United States continue and conversations about contraception and women's health remain highly relevant.
Source: University of Copenhagen
03.12.2025
