Birth control and mental health
It’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Let’s address some top questions about birth control and mental health.
Does birth control make you depressed?
The research is mixed on this. If you notice you are depressed after starting birth control, then talk to your doctor. KNOW that there are 8 different progestins. If one causes you to be depressed, you have seven others you can try. My psychiatrist friends generally agree that having a stable hormone level is better for depression and other mood disorders.
Do antidepressants affect my birth control?
TLDR: No. Antidepressants do not interact with hormonal birth control. However, some mood stabilizers (phenytoin, carbamazepine, topiramate, lamotrigine) might have interactions with birth control, so please talk to your doctor and check. Birth control is not a treatment for mood disorders.
Can birth control help with PMDD (Premenstrual dysphoric disorder)?
TLDR: Yes. If you skip the monthly bleeds using birth control, it should prevent PMDD. No menstruation, then no menstrual disorder. See my TEDx talk on the bottom of this page if you want to skip your monthly bleeds.
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is also Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! This month we honor the rich history and the countless contributions AAPI people have made to American society. In recent years America has seen an uptick in crimes against AAPI people, which Pandia Health strongly condemns. We are proud to be founded by a Taiwanese American woman, our very own Dr. Sophia Yen! May is not only a month to learn about the history of AAPI people, but also a chance to expand our understanding of the different cultures that represent Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Check out the Stop AAPI Hate coalition to report an incident, educate yourself, find local resources and donate to help #StopAAPIHate.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Mothers are truly real life superheroes, and Pandia Health is lucky to have a team of so many supermoms (Our CEO, our COO, patient care advisors, and more!)! Above all, whether or not you decide to become a mother, Pandia Health supports your right to choose: if, when, and how many times you are a mother.
For any of our soon-to-be moms, check out our favorite online resource for navigating pregnancy – Ruth Health (pelvic floor training, lactation support, post c-section recovery)! And for our breastfeeding moms, shop: Simple Wishes and Pumping Essentials for breast pumps covered by insurance. In honor of Mother’s Day, Simple Wishes is offering the Pandia Health family 20% off with discount code PANDIA.
UPCOMING IG LIVESTREAMS
REAL TALK LIVE: Masturbation May
5/5 @ 5pm PST / 8pm EST
We are excited to be joined by Maureen Pollack, co-founder of Lovability, to discuss the stigmas surrounding women’s pleasure, and how to explore yourself guilt free! This is definitely going to be a fun one you don’t want to miss. See you there!
TMI Tuesdays
5/10 @ 5pm PST / 8pm EST en español and 5:30pm PST/8:30pm in English
Join our CEO/Founder Dr. Sophia Yen on Instagram live as she discusses the recent Supreme Court update and how stay prepared with emergency contraception. Tune in and get your questions answered by an expert!