Women who go on the pill after giving birth at increased risk of postnatal depression, study finds

Women who start taking hormonal contraceptive pills in the 12 months after giving birth are at greater risk of developing postnatal depression, scientists claim.

Research conducted by the Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet in Denmark and published on JAMA Network Open revealed the link between hormonal contraceptives and depression in new mothers.

A study of more than 600,000 first-time mothers in Denmark found that those who started a hormonal contraceptive in the year after giving birth were almost 1.5-times more likely to develop depression compared to mothers not using a hormonal contraceptive.

READ MORE: 'Cannot be avoided': Big change coming to every cigarette today

The data also showed that the earlier a new mother started hormonal birth control, the greater her risk of developing depression was.

These results were relatively consistent across most types of hormonal contraceptives except for the progestogen-only pill.

Have you got a story? Contact reporter Maddison Leach at mleach@nine.com.au

The progestogen-only pill was associated with a reduced risk of depression in the early study period, but increased risk in the late postnatal period.

Over 12 months, more than 9250 of the first-time mothers involved in the study developed depression.

Though that figure accounts for just 1.5 per cent of all study participants, the research suggests a meaningful link between hormonal contraceptives and the risk of developing postnatal depression.

READ MORE: One move could leave the truth behind Hackman's death a mystery

Postnatal depression is a serious mental health concern characterised by emotional, thinking, behavioural and other changes lasting more than two weeks.

Common symptoms include, but are not limited to, low mood, loss of confidence, feelings of hopelessness, fear or anxiety, being overwhelmed, sleep changes, appetite changes and low energy.

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, beyond blue on 1300 22 4636, or PANDA on 1300 726 306.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.