meetara-lab/vectorstore-women_health huggingface dataset:
www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662

find that facing, or even thinking about facing, the 
feared object or situation brings on a panic attack 
or severe anxiety.

Q: How ar
e anxiety disorders treated?
A: Often, treatment includes counseling (called psy-
chotherapy), medicine, or a combination of the two. 
Psychotherapy is talking to a trained mental health 
professional about what caused your anxiety disorder 
and how to deal with the symptoms. It may involve 
cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT may help 
you change the thinking pattern around your fears 
and change the way you react to situations that create 
anxiety. 

Q: What types of medicine tr

eat anxiety 

disorders?

A: Several types of medicine treat anxiety disorders. 
These include:

   • Antianxiety (benzodiazepines). These med-
icines are usually prescribed for short periods 
of time because they are addictive. Stopping 
this medicine too quickly can cause withdrawal 
symptoms.
• Beta blockers. These medicines can help prevent 
the physical symptoms of an anxiety disorder, 
like trembling or sweating.

   • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). 
SSRIs change the level of serotonin in the brain. 
Common side effects can include insomnia or 
sedation, stomach problems, and a lack of sexual 
desire. 

A FACT SHEET FROM THE OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
• Tricyclics. Tricylics work like SSRIs. But some-
times they cause more side effects than SSRIs. 
They may cause dizziness, drowsiness, dry 
mouth, constipation, or weight gain.

   • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). People 
who take MAOIs must avoid certain foods and 
drinks (like cheese and red wine) that contain an 
amino acid called tyramine. Taking an MAOI and 
eating these foods can cause blood pressure lev-
els to spike dangerously. Women who take MAOIs 
must also avoid certain types of birth control. 

Anxiety disorders

2
Anxiety disorders

2

All medicines have risks. You should talk to your doc-
tor about the benefits and risks of all medicines. 

Q: What if my tr
eatment is not working?
A: Sometimes, you may need to work with 
your doctor to try several different treatments or 
combinations of treatment before you find one that 
works for you.

For more information…
For more information about anxiety disorders, call the OWH Helpline at 800-994-9662 or contact the 
following organizations: 

MentalHealth.gov, HHS 
www.MentalHealth.gov

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), NIH, HHS
866-615-6464 • www.nimh.nih.gov

Anxiety and Depression Association of America
240-485-1001 • www.adaa.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness
800-950-6264 • www.nami.org

This fact sheet was reviewed by:

Michael Kozak, Ph.D., Division of Adult Translational Research and Treatment Development, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes 
of Health

And
This fact sheet was reviewed by:

Michael Kozak, Ph.D., Division of Adult Translational Research and Treatment Development, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes 
of Health

And

Alicia Kaplan, M.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Temple University School of Medicine and Drexel University College of Medicine, and Staff 
Psychiatrist, Division of Adult Services, Department of Psychiatry, Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

All material contained in this fact sheet is free of copyright restrictions and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the 
Office on Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated. 

Content last updated: July 14, 2015.

Content last reviewed: February 12, 2015.

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www.youtube.com/WomensHealthgov

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A FACT SHEET FROM THE OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH

Depression

Life is full of ups and downs, but if you feel sad, 
empty, or hopeless most of the time for at least two 
weeks or those feelings keep you from your regular 
activities, you may have depression. Depression is 
a serious mental health condition. Women are twice 
as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression. 
Depression is not a normal part of being a woman. 
Most women, even those with the most severe 
depression, can get better with treatment.
Q: What is depression?
A: Depression is a mental illness that can be 
diagnosed when someone feels sad (including crying 
often), or loses interest in or takes no pleasure in 
daily activities for at least two weeks. Depression 
affects a person’s ability to work, go to school, or have 
relationships with friends and family. Depression is 
one of the most common mental health conditions in 
the United States. It is an illness that involves the body, 
mood, and thoughts. It can affect the way you eat and 
sleep, feel about yourself, and think about things. 
Q: What causes depression? 
A: There is no single cause of depression. There are 
many reasons why a woman may have depression:

•  Family history. Women with a family history of 
depression may be more at risk. But depression 
can also happen in women who don’t have a 
family history of depression. 

•  Brain changes. The brains of people with
•  Brain changes. The brains of people with 

depression look and function differently from  
those of people who don’t have depression.

•  Chemistry. In someone who has depression, parts 
of the brain that manage mood, thoughts, sleep, 
appetite, and behavior may not have the right 
balance of chemicals. 

•  Hormone levels. Changes in levels of the female 
hormones estrogen and progesterone during 
the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum 
period, perimenopause, or menopause may 
raise a woman’s risk for depression. Having 
a miscarriage can also put a woman at higher risk 
for depression.

•  Stress. Serious and stressful life events, or the 

combination of several stressful events, such as 
trauma, loss of a loved one, a bad relationship, 
work responsibilities, caring for children and 
aging parents, abuse, and poverty, may trigger 
depression in some people. 

•  Medical problems. Dealing with a serious
•  Medical problems. Dealing with a serious 

health problem, such as stroke, heart attack, or 
cancer, can lead to depression. Research shows 
that people who have a serious illness and 
depression are more likely to have more serious 
types of both conditions. Some medical illnesses, 
like Parkinson’s disease, hypothyroidism, and 
stroke, can cause changes in the brain that can 
trigger depression.

•  Pain. Women who feel emotional or physical pain 
for long periods are much more likely to develop 
depression. The pain can come from a chronic 
(long-term) health problem, accident, or trauma 
such as sexual assault or abuse.

Q: What are the symptoms of depression? 
A: Not all people with depression have the same 
symptoms. Some people might have only a few 
symptoms, while others may have many. How often 
symptoms happen, how long they last, and how severe 
they are may be different for each person.
www.womenshealth.gov | 1-800-994-9662www.womenshealth.gov | 1-800-994-9662
If you have any of the following symptoms for at 
least two weeks, talk to a doctor or nurse or mental 
health professional:

• Feeling sad, “down,” or empty, including

crying often

• Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless, or useless

• Loss of interest in hobbies and activities that you

once enjoyed

• Decreased energy

• Difficulty staying focused, remembering, or

making decisions

• Sleeplessness, early morning awakening, or
oversleeping and not wanting to get up

• Lack of appetite, leading to weight loss, or eating

to feel better, leading to weight gain

• Thoughts of hurting yourself

• Thoughts of death or suicide

2

Q: How is depression treated?
A: Your doctor or mental health professional may treat
depression with therapy, medicine, or a combination of 
the two. Your doctor or nurse may refer you to a mental 
health specialist so that you can begin therapy.
Some people with milder forms of depression get better 
after treatment with therapy. People with moderate to 
severe depression might need a type of medicine called 
an antidepressant in addition to therapy. Antidepressants 
change the levels of certain chemicals in your brain. It 
may take a few weeks or months before you begin to 
feel a change in your mood. There are different types of 
antidepressant medicines, and some work better than 
others for certain people. Some people get better only 
with both treatments — therapy and antidepressants. 

Q: What if I have thoughts of hurting myself?
A: If you are thinking about hurting or even killing
yourself, get help now. Call 911 or the National Suicide 
Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). 

• Feeling easily annoyed, bothered, or angered

• Constant physical symptoms that do not get better
with treatment, such as headaches, upset stomach,
and pain that doesn’t go away
• Feeling easily annoyed, bothered, or angered

• Constant physical symptoms that do not get better
with treatment, such as headaches, upset stomach,
and pain that doesn’t go away

You might feel like your pain is too overwhelming to 
bear, but those feelings don’t last forever. People do 
make it through suicidal thoughts. Many thoughts of 
suicide are impulses that go away after a short period 
of time. 

For more information…
For more information about depression, call the OWH Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or check out these 
resources from the following organizations:

MentalHealth.gov, HHS 
www.MentalHealth.gov

Anxiety and Depression Association of America 
240-485-1001 • www.adaa.org

National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, HHS 
1-866-615-6464 • www.nimh.nih.gov

National Alliance on Mental Illness
1-800-950-6264 • www.nami.org

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration, HHS 
1-800-789-2647 • www.samhsa.gov

www.womenshealth.gov | 1-800-994-9662
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration, HHS 
1-800-789-2647 • www.samhsa.gov

www.womenshealth.gov | 1-800-994-9662

www.youtube.com/WomensHealthgov

www.facebook.com/HHSOWH

www.twitter.com/WomensHealth

Depression
Birth Control Methods

Birth control, or contraception, is any method or device used 
to prevent pregnancy. Women can choose from many dif
-
ferent types of birth control. Some work better than others 
at preventing pregnancy. The type of birth control you use 
depends on your health, your desire to have children now or 
in the future, and your need to prevent sexually transmitted 
infections (STIs, also called STDs). Your doctor can help you 
decide which type is best for you right now.

Q: What are the different types of birth control?
A:  Women can choose from many different types of birth
control methods. These include (in order of most effective to 
least effective at preventing pregnancy):

• Female and male sterilization (female tubal ligation 
or occlusion, male vasectomy) — Birth control that 
prevents pregnancy for the rest of your life through 
surgery or a medical procedure.

• Long-acting reversible contraceptives or
• Long-acting reversible contraceptives or

“LARC” methods (intrauterine devices, hormonal 
implants) — Birth control that your doctor inserts one 
time and you do not have to remember to take every 
day or month. LARCs last for 3 to 10 years, depending 
on the method.

• Short-acting hormonal methods (pill, mini pills, 

patch, shot, vaginal ring) — Birth control that your 
doctor prescribes that you remember to take every day 
or month. For the shot, you need to see your doctor 
every three months.

• Barrier methods (condoms, diaphragms, sponge, cer
-
vical cap) — Birth control that you use each time you 
have sex.

• Natural rhythm methods — Not using a type of birth 
control but instead avoiding sex and/or using birth 
control only on the days when you are most fertile
(most likely to get pregnant). An ovulation home test 
kit or a fertility monitor can help you find your most 
fertile days. 

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662
www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662

Q: Which types of birth control help prevent
sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? 
A:  Only two types of birth control can protect you from
STIs, including HIV: male condoms and female condoms. 
While condoms are the best way to prevent STIs if you have 
sex, they are not the most effective type of birth control. If you 
have sex, the best way to prevent both STIs and pregnancy is 
to use what is called “dual protection.” Dual protection means 
you use a condom to prevent STIs each time you have sex, 
and at the same time, you use a more effective form of birth 
control, such as an IUD, implant, or shot.

Q: Which types of birth control can I get
without a prescription?
A:  You can buy these types of birth control over the
counter at a drugstore or supermarket: 

• Male condoms

• Female condoms

• Sponges

• Spermicides
• Male condoms

• Female condoms

• Sponges

• Spermicides

Q: Which types of birth control do I have to
see my doctor to get? 
A:  You need a prescription for these types of birth control:
• Oral contraceptives: the pill and the mini-pill (in some
states, birth control pills are now available without a
prescription, through the pharmacy)

• Patch

• Vaginal ring

• Diaphragms (your doctor or nurse needs to fit one to

the shape of your vagina)

• Shot/injection (you get the shot at your doctor’s office

or family planning clinic)

A FACT SHEET FROM THE OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
Birth Control Methods

2

• Cervical cap

• Implantable rod (inserted by a doctor in the office

or clinic)

• IUD (inserted by a doctor in the office or clinic)

You will need surgery or a medical procedure for:

• Female sterilization (tubal ligation)

• Male sterilization (vasectomy)

• Tubal implant (Essure®)
You will need surgery or a medical procedure for:

• Female sterilization (tubal ligation)

• Male sterilization (vasectomy)

• Tubal implant (Essure®)

Q: How can I get free or low-cost birth control?
A:  Under the Affordable Care Act (the health care law),
most insurance plans cover FDA-approved prescription birth 
control, such as the pill, IUDs, and female sterilization, 

at no additional cost to you. This also includes birth 
control counseling.

• If you have insurance, check with your insurance
provider to find out what’s included in your plan.

• If you have Medicaid, your insurance covers birth

control. This includes birth control and visits to your
doctor related to birth control. Programs vary between
states, so check with your state’s Medicaid program to
learn what your benefits are.
control. This includes birth control and visits to your
doctor related to birth control. Programs vary between
states, so check with your state’s Medicaid program to
learn what your benefits are.

• If you don’t have insurance, don’t panic. Family plan
ning (reproductive health) clinics may provide some
birth control methods for free or at low cost. Call your
local clinic to learn more.

-

For information about other services covered by the 
Affordable Care Act, visit www.HealthCare.gov.

For more information…

For more information on birth control methods, call the OWH Helpline at 800-994-9662 or contact the 
following organizations: 

• Food and Drug Administration
Phone Number: 888-463-6332
www.fda.gov

• Office of Population Affairs

Phone Number: 240-453-2888
www.hhs.gov/opa

• American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Phone Number: 800-762-2264 x 349 (for publications
requests only) • www.acog.org

• Planned Parenthood Federation of America
• American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Phone Number: 800-762-2264 x 349 (for publications
requests only) • www.acog.org

• Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Phone Number: 800-230-7526
www.plannedparenthood.org

The Office on Women’s Health is grateful for the additional reviews by:

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER),  Division of Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Products

(DBRUP) medical staff, and Center for Devices and Radiological Health staff

• Tessa Madden, M.D., M.P.H., Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Women’s Health Center, Center for Advanced Medicine, and Associate Professor,

Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri

All material contained on this page is free of copyright restrictions and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office 
on Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.

Page last updated: January 16, 2017. 

Content last reviewed: October 15, 2015.

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www.youtube.com/WomensHealthgov

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662
Emergency contraception

Emergency contraception can help keep you from getting 
pregnant if you had sex without using birth control or if your 
birth control method did not work. Emergency contraception 
is also called the “morning after pill.” But you do not need 
to wait until the morning after unprotected sex to take it. 
-
There are two types of FDA-approved emergency contracep
tive pills (ECPs). Some ECPs can work when taken within 
five days of unprotected sex or when your birth control 
does not work correctly. Some ECPs are available without 
a prescription.

Q: What types of emergency contraception
pills are available?
A:  In the United States, there are two types of FDA-
approved ECPs available for emergency contraception:

• ella® (ulipristal acetate)

• Plan B One-Step® (Levonorgestral [LNG]) — Plan B 

One-Step® has several generic versions. Some common 
generic versions include AfterPill®, My Way®, Next 
Choice One Dose®, and Take Action®.
• Plan B One-Step® (Levonorgestral [LNG]) — Plan B 

One-Step® has several generic versions. Some common 
generic versions include AfterPill®, My Way®, Next 
Choice One Dose®, and Take Action®. 

Q: How do I get emergency contraception?
A:  It depends on the type of emergency contraception
you need.

• Plan B One-Step® and similar generic versions are

available in stores without a prescription to anyone,
of any age. If you do not see it on the shelf, ask the
pharmacist for help.

• LNG tablets (two-pill generic Next Choice® and LNG
tablets, 0.75 mg) are available to people aged 17 and
older without a prescription. These brands are sold
from behind the pharmacy counter.

• ella® is available only by prescription from your

doctor, nurse, or family planning clinic.
• ella® is available only by prescription from your

doctor, nurse, or family planning clinic.

Q: How quickly should I use emergency
contraception after unprotected sex?
A:  Emergency contraception works best when you use it
as soon as possible after unprotected sex. If you are unable 
to take it right away, emergency contraception can still work 
to prevent pregnancy if taken up to three to five days after 
unprotected sex. How long after depends on which type of 
emergency contraception you use.

• Take Plan B One-Step® or a generic version as soon
as possible within three days (or 72 hours) after
unprotected sex.

• For the two-dose version (Next Choice®, LNG tablets,
0.75 mg), take one pill as soon as possible within
three days and the second pill 12 hours later.

• Take ella® (ulipristal acetate) as soon as possible

within five days (or 120 hours) after unprotected sex.
• Take ella® (ulipristal acetate) as soon as possible

within five days (or 120 hours) after unprotected sex.

Q: How do emergency contraception pills
prevent pregnancy?
A:  Research shows that emergency contraception
pills work mostly by preventing or delaying ovulation  
(the release of an egg from the ovary). Less commonly, 
emergency contraception may prevent fertilization of the 
egg by the sperm if ovulation has already happened. If a 
fertilized egg has already implanted in your uterus (you are 
pregnant), emergency contraception pills will not stop or 
harm your pregnancy.

Q: Can I get emergency contraception pills
before I need them?
A:  Yes. Your doctor can give you a prescription to fill so
you can have emergency contraception at home to use when 
you need it. Or you can buy some types of emergency  
contraception pills from a store at any time.

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662

A FACT SHEET FROM THE OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
Emergency Contraception

2
www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662

A FACT SHEET FROM THE OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
Emergency Contraception

2

Q: How can I get free or low-cost 
emergency contraception?
A: Under the Affordable Care Act (the health care law), 
most insurance plans cover FDA-approved emergency  
contraception and birth control at no cost to you. This 
includes Plan B One-Step® and ella®. Since you can buy  
Plan B One-Step® or the generic version in a store,  
without a prescription, call your insurance company 
to find out whether your plan covers over-the-counter 
emergency contraception.

•  If you have insurance, check with your insurance  
provider to find out what’s included in your plan.

•  If you have Medicaid, your insurance may cover  

emergency contraception. Coverage varies between 
states, so check with your state’s Medicaid program  
to learn what your benefits are.
•  If you have Medicaid, your insurance may cover  

emergency contraception. Coverage varies between 
states, so check with your state’s Medicaid program  
to learn what your benefits are.

•  If you don’t have insurance, don’t panic. Family plan
ning or health clinics like Planned Parenthood may 
provide emergency contraception for free or at low 
cost. Call your local clinic to learn more. To sign up  
for low-cost or no-cost health insurance, visit 
HealthCare.gov.

-

For information about other services covered by the 
Affordable Care Act, visit HealthCare.gov.

For more information…

For more information on emergency contraception, call the OWH Helpline at 800-994-9662 or contact the 
following organizations: 

•  Food and Drug Administration (FDA), HHS 

•  Planned Parenthood Federation of America 

Phone Number: 888-463-6332 
www.fda.gov/

Phone Number: 800-230-7526 
www.plannedparenthood.org/

•  Office of Population Affairs (OPA), HHS
•  Planned Parenthood Federation of America 

Phone Number: 888-463-6332 
www.fda.gov/

Phone Number: 800-230-7526 
www.plannedparenthood.org/

•  Office of Population Affairs (OPA), HHS 

•  The Emergency Contraception Website 

Phone Number: 240-453-2888 
www.hhs.gov/opa/ 

ec.princeton.edu/

The Office on Women’s Health is grateful for the additional reviews by:

•  Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Division of Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Products staff 

•  James Trussell, Ph.D., Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, Emeritus, Senior Demographer, Office of Population Research, 

Princeton University 

All material contained on this page is free of copyright restrictions and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office 
on Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.

Page last updated: January 16, 2017. 

Content last reviewed: October 2, 2015.
Page last updated: January 16, 2017. 

Content last reviewed: October 2, 2015.

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www.twitter.com/WomensHealth

www.youtube.com/WomensHealthgov

www.womenshealth.gov | 800-994-9662