It is typically safe to use hormonal birth control with antidepressants. However, some antidepressants, such as tricyclics, may interact with certain birth control methods and affect how they work.

If you’ve never heard about the relationship between hormonal birth control and antidepressants, you aren’t alone. Women’s health has long been underfunded and underresearched, which also means mental health may not always be discussed in healthcare appointments.

There are a number of hormonal contraceptive methods that may interact with some medications used to treat depression. This includes:

However, there appears to be no effect when using an intrauterine device (IUD) or contraceptive shot.

Read on to discover how they interact with each other and side effects to look out for.

“The good news is that there are no known interactions between commonly prescribed antidepressants and different birth control methods,” explains Dr. Deborah Lee, a sexual and reproductive healthcare specialist for Dr. Fox Online Doctor and Pharmacy.

“These antidepressants include serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, and sertraline, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as venlafaxine and duloxetine.”

That means that any of the above antidepressants shouldn’t impact the effectiveness of your birth control.

However, there may be interactions with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), like amitriptyline or nortriptyline, “which are much less commonly prescribed these days,” Lee says.

There isn’t much research into whether birth control can impact antidepressant effectiveness. As Lee states, “the effect of taking reproductive hormones on SSRIs is complex and not well understood.”

Further research is still needed to understand the exact effects.

The best thing to do is speak with a doctor or other healthcare professional before taking both birth control and antidepressants.

Be open with them about all the medications you’re taking, any history of mental health conditions, and how you’re currently feeling.

They can then recommend either a form of birth control or an antidepressant that will suit you best.

Once you’ve started both forms of medication, Lee advises keeping a diary and writing how you feel in it every day, including any new symptoms.

If side effects appear, “this means you have written proof as evidence to show the doctor.”

They may alter dosages, discuss changing methods, and see if non-pharmacological therapies can help.

If you do start to experience emotional changes or suicidal thoughts, contact a healthcare professional straight away.

Use the support of family and friends, too — they may start to notice changes before you do.

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Changing to a combination that’s known to have zero interactions can help if, for example, you’re prescribed TCAs or MAOIs.

“If you’re very happy with your contraception, have been on it sometime, and really don’t want to change it, I would suggest swapping the antidepressant,” Lee says. “However, it depends on each person’s situation and the specific side effects they’re experiencing.”

If you’re interested in seeing whether your side effects are down to your contraceptive or antidepressant, you can try changing to the nonhormonal copper IUD and continue with your usual antidepressant to see if your symptoms improve.

“Time is a tool,” Lee notes. “It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks for drugs and hormones to be completely out of your system, so always wait about 3 months after swapping before you decide if things are better or worse.”

Remember: If you want to prevent pregnancy, talk with a healthcare professional before stopping any contraception.

Some forms of birth control, like the pill, can be stopped right away, though it can be best to wait until the end of the pack or cycle to help avoid irregular bleeding and predict your next period.

Others, like the implant and IUD, require a doctor or other healthcare professional to remove them.

In most cases, the hormones leave your body within a few days. That means you’ll need to use a nonhormonal form of contraception or a barrier method, like condoms, straight away if you want to prevent pregnancy.

In the case of the shot, the birth control effects can last a lot longer — around three months.

Some people do experience side effects as a result of coming off birth control. Menstrual changes are common and can come in the form of irregular periods, spotting, and lighter or heavier bleeding.

Conditions that you experienced before starting birth control, like acne breakouts, may also reappear. On the other hand, any negative side effects of your hormonal contraceptive should disappear.

If you’re finding the changes difficult to manage or haven’t had a regular period three months after stopping, connect with a healthcare professional for advice.

There’s still much to learn about the relationship between birth control and antidepressants.

However, it is generally considered safe to use antidepressants, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, with any form of contraception.

But no matter what combination you choose, always seek advice from a healthcare professional before starting, swapping, or stopping any medication.