Does Melatonin Affect Birth Control?

How Does Melatonin Affect the Body?

Melatonin is naturally produced by the body and controlled by the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), a part of the brain that regulates our circadian rhythms, or 24-hour internal clock Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Light exposure suppresses melatonin, so its levels usually increase in the evening. Increased melatonin levels provoke tiredness, helping us feel ready for sleep. Melatonin is not a sedative, however, and the sleepiness it causes usually occurs about two hours after its levels increase, whether naturally or through supplementation.

Most research on melatonin focuses on how it affects the sleep-wake cycle, but this hormone likely impacts many other aspects of the body as well. Limited research suggests melatonin could potentially help treat liver injuries and disease Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , protect against skin damage Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , prevent and treat cancer Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , treat dental disease Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , improve physical performance Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , and treat cardiovascular disease Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Melatonin appears to be involved in multiple bodily systems, so future research will likely uncover even more of its effects.

Melatonin Supplements for Sleep

Although melatonin supplements help promote sleep, not all professionals recommend them for chronic insomnia, which is insomnia that lasts more than  three months . Instead, sleepers struggling with chronic insomnia may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). Studies suggest that melatonin works well for certain other sleep issues, however, such as jet lag. Melatonin supplementation might also be useful for shift workers, but more research is required. It is important to consult with your doctor before beginning melatonin supplementation.

Do Melatonin Supplements Affect Birth Control?

Research suggests melatonin supplements and birth-related hormones likely affect one another. How they affect one another isn’t entirely clear, however. Researchers once suggested melatonin as an active ingredient for birth control pills Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source and hypothesized that a melatonin-progestin birth control pill could help prevent breast cancer Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . However, in another study melatonin supplementation positively affected fertility Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source in women undergoing fertility treatments. Melatonin levels likely fluctuate depending on where a person is in their menstrual cycle Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , which could help explain these conflicting results.

Research on hormonal birth control and natural melatonin levels have also returned inconsistent results. One study found that oral contraceptive use altered the circadian rhythm of melatonin Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , although average levels remained the same. Another study found that women on birth control had similar melatonin levels Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source to women not on birth control. A third study found that oral contraceptives with progestin significantly increased melatonin levels Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Differences in results could be due to differences in how and when melatonin was measured, or differences in types of birth control.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much research on how melatonin supplements and birth control interact.People taking an oral contraceptive might worry, does melatonin cancel out birth control? It isn’t likely, but since there isn’t conclusive research on how these items interact, it’s best to be cautious. If you’re on hormonal birth control and interested in trying melatonin supplements, check with your doctor. They might recommend you try other sleep-promoting methods first.

What Are Other Ways to Improve Sleep?

If you are on birth control and having trouble sleeping, consider following more general sleep tips before trying out melatonin supplements. Improving your overall sleep hygiene may help you fall asleep faster and sleep better. Good sleep hygiene Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source includes:

• Making your bedroom quiet, cool, and dark
• Only using your bed for sleep and not for other activities
• Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule
• Avoiding activities that excite you before bed, like watching intense movies
• Refraining from intense physical activity or exercise in the hours before bedtime
• Not eating heavy foods in the hours before bedtime
• Avoiding cigarettes in the hours before bedtime
• Engaging in relaxation techniques Trusted Source National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NICCH) NCCIH funds and conducts research to help answer important scientific and public health questions about complementary health approaches. View Source , such as meditation and yoga

Some people also find that alternative medicine techniques, such as massage, herbal tea, hypnotherapy, and acupuncture, help them sleep. There is not enough research to conclude these strategies work for most people, however.

If you have tried improving your sleep through sleep hygiene techniques and are still having trouble, see your doctor to eliminate the possibility of a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders are fairly common. Your doctor can ask you questions and order tests, if necessary, to determine whether or not you have a sleep disorder. To prepare for your doctor’s appointment, bring notes about your symptoms and a diary of your sleep schedule and disturbances over the previous week, if possible. This information helps your doctor better understand what type of sleep problem you might be dealing with.