Study on the relationship between oral contraceptives and bipolar disorder and major depression in women

Objective To investigate the association between oral contraceptive use and the incidence of bipolar disorder and major depression in women.Methods Using data from the UK Biobank, collected between 2006 and 2010 from 60,235 female participants, a logistic regression model was employed to investigate the association between oral contraceptives and outcomes of bipolar disorder and major depression.Results Univariate logistic regression model analysis indicated that past use of oral contraceptives is a risk factor for bipolar disorder and major depression (OR=1.57, 95% CI 1.50-1.64, P<0.001). After adjusting for other confounding factors, past use of oral contraceptives remained a risk factor for bipolar disorder and major depression (OR=1.38, 95% CI 1.29-1.49, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis based on different population characteristics showed that the risk associated with oral contraceptive use was higher in low to middle-income groups.Conclusion This study found a significant association between past oral contraceptive use and the occurrence of bipolar disorder and major depression, suggesting that oral contraceptives are an independent risk factor for these conditions. Future research should adopt prospective designs to more accurately assess the relationship between oral contraceptive use and mental health, providing more reliable evidence for clinical practice.