Hormonal Birth Control and Depression Risk: Musk Comments on Women's Health
Billionaire Elon Musk highlighted the potential link between hormonal birth control usage and increased risks of depression and suicide, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing women's health.
Highlighted statement is not a value statement" but "a public service announcement" and said that "other forms of birth control do not have these effects."
‘Elon Musk emphasized the importance of women being aware of the effects of hormonal birth control, citing its significant association with depression and heightened suicide risk. #birthcontrol #womenhealth #depression #suicide ’
He posted his comments while sharing the X post of US television commentator and author Ashley St. Clair. "I've never been on anti-birth control, it can be a life-changing medication for some. However, it does have serious side effects including increased risk of depression and suicide," she wrote in the post.
Concerns Raised Over Medical Approach to Hormonal Birth Control Side Effects
She further added "When women talk to their doctors about these symptoms, doctors never suggest getting off of the pill or trying alternative, non-hormonal birth control. They typically just prescribe an additional psychiatric medication, put women on a pharmaceutical cocktail," she added.Hormonal contraceptive methods mainly include oral pills or implants, patches or vaginal rings, which release small quality of one or more hormones to prevent ovulation. Other methods of contraception include intrauterine devices (IUDs) devices, and condoms.
Several studies have indicated the risk of depression with hormonal birth control, however, thorough research is still lacking. The studies have emphasized stressed the role of care providers in making women aware of the potential risk of depression as a side-effect of the medicine.
In response to Elon Musk's post, some women expressed that at times these medicines were also prescribed for non-contraceptive use and they shared their reasons for discontinued use of these pills, citing the post of Elon Musk.
In response to Elon Musk's post, some women expressed that at times these medicines were also prescribed for non-contraceptive use and they shared their reasons for discontinued use of these pills, citing the post of Elon Musk.
Reference:
- Hormonal contraception and suicide - (https:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6193788/)
Source: IANS