Since the 1960s, the contraceptive pill has been a popular choice of contraception for many women around the world.

On 1 February 1961, Australia became the second country in the world to enable access to the pill, thereby allowing women to have control over their fertility and separate sexual activity from reproduction — a major revolution.

The early pills caused many physical side effects, such as nausea, vomiting and increased rates of blood clots — which were significant and concerning.

While newer generations of the pill have generally been improved in terms of physical side effects and safety overall, a neglected area of consideration is the impact of the pill on mood.