I’ve always found one of the most baffling tropes of women to be their portrayal as erratic, overly-emotional beings. Although abundant within the pages of literature and the glamour of film, when considering the drudgery of day-to-day life, this melodramatic role seems confined to fiction. Even the trite argument that menstruation creates madness refutes the claim – apparent irrationality can at least be traced back to an identifiable source. So perhaps you can imagine my horror at finding myself awake at 3am, in tears, with no clear reason why.  

Taking the contraceptive pill before coming to university seemed apt. The merits are fairly obvious; involuntary teenage pregnancy doesn’t exactly fit into my long-term plan and it is difficult to argue with the rationale that it is ‘better to be safe than sorry’. Data pointing to the pill’s high success rate, along with its widespread use in society, compounds the notion of it as an accepted norm. And really, what’s the harm? Bad things happen: faulty condoms and inebriated mistakes are common hazards in the heady fresher’s environment. The pill offers a sense of security and stability that is hard to resist.

In order to obtain a prescription, the GP is legally obliged to go through the general symptoms that can occur which range from the more common mood swings to anything as serious as arterial blood clots. The list is quite lengthy and increasingly alarming, but one is assured that the more extreme outcomes rarely occur. For myself, and surely many others, the liberty and reassurance that the pill promised outweighed the disadvantages.

"This is perhaps illustrative of a wider tendency to brush off these traits as inconveniences or irrational behaviour, especially if they lack an exceptional external cause"

The important thing to realize is that effects can differ greatly. Many of the people I know who take it are fine – the pill providing a welcome release from both the bother of periods and the concern of pregnancy. Nevertheless, the risks are too often ignored or wrongfully dismissed as insignificant. Mental health is particularly vulnerable. Last year, a study by Danish researchers dominated the debate on contraception – its findings creating a link between recent users of the pill and an increased risk of depressive symptoms.

This stands at the forefront of a recent groundswell of academic studies and personal accounts which point to the pill’s propensity to intensify and aggravate psychological symptoms, especially for those with a history of mental health issues.  One in ten women have a chance of being affected by mood swings within the first six months of use – apparently the least worrisome and most common of the side effects. I was able to witness this first hand. Fluctuating hormones created waves of intense emotions and everyday issues would trigger bouts of anxiety, creating tendencies of obsessive-compulsiveness. This was a novel experience, and admittedly quite disturbing – it was as if I could not control or mediate my body’s own behaviour.

Much has already been written about Cambridge’s complex relationship with mental health. Despite increasing awareness of the effects of the demanding environment, it is still very easy to simply ignore such indicators. Initially, these symptoms were not linked to the pill – it was the result of an ‘off day’, maybe the stress was just a ‘bit too overwhelming’. This is perhaps illustrative of a wider tendency to brush off these traits as inconveniences or irrational behaviour, especially if they lack an exceptional external cause (family issues or loss, for instance). Nevertheless, one reaches a similar end-point. Depression and mood swings, be they immediately understandable or not, are still incapacitating, leaving one feeling physically and mentally drained.

It’s all in your head?

Perhaps one should then shine a light on the viable alternatives. The intrauterine device (IUD) and intrauterine system (IUS) both provide a non-hormonal, long-term form of protection for females, yet fail to achieve the same sort of ubiquitous appeal. In Britain, the morning-after pill can cost upwards of £35 – a hefty sum for the skint student. And what of the responsibilities of the opposite sex? Vasectomies cut a little too close for comfort, with many men shying away from such a permanent bodily alteration. Research into the male contraceptive pill is still ongoing but fear of side-effects halts their introduction into the common market. With this in mind, similar side-effects continue to be seen in the various forms of female oral contraception.

Female contraceptive methods began as a form of political liberation, allowing women to be in control of their own fertility. The pill itself takes on a symbolic role in society, an emblem of women’s independence and the achievements of the sexual revolution. Its usage has gained massive traction worldwide, cementing a reputation as the modern woman’s choice method of family planning. It is a shame that this scintillating beacon of emancipation is tarnished by such depressing realities. How is it possible that one of the most popular pharmaceutical methods for women to take control over their own bodies can simultaneously lead to its loss? If this makes her mad – then so be it.

This article was updated on November 5th 2018 to anonymise the writer for personal reasons.