Data analysis of The Student’s survey into the effects of hormonal contraception on mental health
By Katharine Cook
Overall Statistics
1. 124 respondents used multiple hormonal contraceptions
2. 196 respondents used the combined pill
3. 25 respondents used the contraceptive implant
4. 8 respondents used the IUS - hormonal coil
5. 1 respondents used the Vaginal ring
6. 33 respondent used the Mini pill
7. 2 respondents used the IUD - non-hormonal coil
8. 5 respondents used the Contraceptive injection
9. 1 respondent used the Transdermal Patch
In total, there were 396 respondents that completed the survey, the mean age at which respondents had started their contraception was 17.5 years old.
267 out of 396 (67%) of respondents noticed a change in their general mood while using hormonal contraception.
223 out of 396 (56%) respondents felt that the contraception affected/is affecting their mental health.
169 out of 396 (43%) of respondents have continued to take hormonal forms of contraception.
156 out of 396 (39%) of respondents stopped taking contraception because they felt it was affecting their mental health.
95 out of 396 (24%) felt pressure from a sexual partner to take hormonal contraception.
101 out of 396 (26%) of respondents were warned by their GP about possible mental health side effects from hormonal contraceptions
108 out of 396 (27%) of respondents went to the doctor with concerns about impact of hormonal contraception on their mental health.
103 out of 396 (26%) were prescribed antidepressants while on hormonal contraception.
122 out of 396 (31%) respondents have noticed a change in mood after stopping their hormonal contraception.
Multiple forms of contraceptions
In total, 125 respondents that answered the survey have taken more than one form of hormonal contraception. The mean age at which this group of respondents started taking contraception was 17 years old.
93 out of 125 (74%) of respondents noticed a change in their general mood while using the contraception.
80 out of 125 (64%) of respondents felt that the contraception affected/is affecting their mental health.
63 out of 125 (just over 50%) of respondents have continued to take hormonal forms of contraception.
68 out of 125 (54%) of respondents stopped taking contraception because they felt it was affecting their mental health.
31/125 (just under 25%) felt pressure from a sexual partner to take hormonal contraception.
27 out of 125 (just under 22%) respondents were warned by their GP about possible mental health side effects from hormonal contraceptions
42 out of 125 (33%) went to the doctor with concerns about impact of hormonal contraception on their mental health.
44/125 (35%) were prescribed antidepressants while on hormonal contraception.
41/125 (33%) have noticed a change in mood after stopping their hormonal contraception.
IUS Hormonal Coil
In total, 8 respondents that answered the survey have used the IUS (hormonal coil).
The mean age at which this group had started using the contraceptionwas 20 years old.
3 out of 8 (37%) respondents noticed a change in their general mood while using the contraception.
3 out of 8 (37%) respondents felt that the contraception affected/is affecting their mental health.
2 out of 8 (25%) of respondents have continued to take hormonal forms of contraception.
2 out of 8 (25%) of respondents stopped taking contraception because they felt it was affecting their mental health.
4 out of 8 (50%) felt pressure from a sexual partner to take hormonal contraception.
4 out of 8 (50%) of respondents were warned by their GP about possible mental health side effects from hormonal contraceptions.
2 out of 8 (25%) of respondents went to the doctor with concerns about impact of hormonal contraception on their mental health.
1 out of 8 (12.5%) were prescribed antidepressants while on hormonal contraception.
1 out of 8 (12.5%) have noticed a change in mood after stopping their hormonal contraception
Contraceptive Injection
In total, 5 respondents that answered the survey have used the contraceptive injection.
The mean age at which this group had started using this contraception was 19 years old.
1 out of 5 (20%) respondents noticed a change in their general mood while using the contraception.
1 out of 5 (20%) respondents felt that the contraception affected/is affecting their mental health.
1 out of 5 (20%) of respondents have continued to take hormonal forms of contraception.
1 out of 5 (20%) of respondents stopped taking contraception because they felt it was affecting their mental health.
1 out of 5 (20%) felt pressure from a sexual partner to take hormonal contraception.
1 out of 5 (20%) of respondents were warned by their GP about possible mental health side effects from hormonal contraceptions
No respondents went to the doctor with concerns about impact of hormonal contraception on their mental health.
1 out of 5 (20%) were prescribed antidepressants while on hormonal contraception. No respondents have noticed a change in mood after stopping their hormonal contraception.
Combined Pill
In total, 196 respondents that answered the survey have taken the combined pill.
The mean age at which this group of respondents had started taking contraception was 17 years old.
127 out of 196 (65%) respondents noticed a change in their general mood while using the contraception.
101 out of 196 (51%) respondents felt that the contraception affected/is affecting their mental health.
70 out of 196 (36%) of respondents have continued to take hormonal forms of contraception.
67 out of 196 (34%) of respondents stopped taking contraception because they felt it was affecting their mental health.
45 out of 196 (23%) felt pressure from a sexual partner to take hormonal contraception.
53 out of 196 (27%) of respondents were warned by their GP about possible mental health side effects from hormonal contraceptions
45 out of 196 (23%) of respondents went to the doctor with concerns about impact of hormonal contraception on their mental health.
43 out of 196 (22%) were prescribed antidepressants while on hormonal contraception.
64 out of 196 (33%) respondents have noticed a change in mood after stopping their hormonal contraception.
Mini Pill
In total, 33 respondents that answered the survey have taken the mini pill.
The mean age at which this group of respondents had started using this contraception was 18.5 years old.
22 out of 33 (66%) respondents noticed a change in their general mood while using the contraception.
21 out of 33 (64%) respondents felt that the contraception affected/is affecting their mental health.
18 out of 33 (36%) of respondents have continued to take hormonal forms of contraception.
13 out of 33 (40%) of respondents stopped taking contraception because they felt it was affecting their mental health.
11 out of 33 (33%) felt pressure from a sexual partner to take hormonal contraception.
7 out of 33 (21%) of respondents were warned by their GP about possible mental health side effects from hormonal contraceptions
10 out of 33 (30%) of respondents went to the doctor with concerns about impact of hormonal contraception on their mental health.
6 out of 33 (18%) were prescribed antidepressants while on hormonal contraception. 10 out of 33 (30%) respondents have noticed a change in mood after stopping their hormonal contraception.
Contraceptive Implant
In total, 25 respondents that answered the survey have taken the mini pill.
The mean age at which this group started using the contraception was 17 years old.
17 out of 25 (68%) respondents noticed a change in their general mood while using the contraception.
13 out of 25 (52%) respondents felt that the contraception affected/is affecting their mental health.
11 out of 25 (44%) of respondents have continued to take hormonal forms of contraception.
2 out of 25 (8%) of respondents stopped taking contraception because they felt it was affecting their mental health.
3 out of 25 (12%) felt pressure from a sexual partner to take hormonal contraception.
8 out of 25 (32%) of respondents were warned by their GP about possible mental health side effects from hormonal contraceptions.
6 out of 33 (30%) of respondents went to the doctor with concerns about impact of hormonal contraception on their mental health.
6 out of 33 (18%) were prescribed antidepressants while on hormonal contraception.
3 out of 33 (9%) respondents have noticed a change in mood after stopping their hormonal contraception