Thank you for this great website.

I was prescribed hormonal birth control when I was still single, to treat my periods –– they were very painful and I also experienced heavy depression, anxiety, and mood swings in the days leading up to my period and the first few days of my period. On birth control, my periods are less painful, and my mood is more stable. I still get sad and tearful in my cycle but I'm not depressed the way I was before.

Will I have to go off the birth control after my marriage? My hope is that I will go off the birth control when we want to conceive and then go back on it after each baby's birth, but now I'm worried it's not halachically acceptable.

Also, I know there are anti–depressants that treat premenstrual depression, but they have more severe side effects so I don't want to go on them. I don't know if my doctor/GYN would even suggest one of them instead. Am I required to use a different form of medication to treat my period–related depression, even if it's less effective or has worse side effects? Can I stay on birth control without trying alternatives just because I know the birth control works and I don't know if other medications will work for me?

Thank you again for your wonderful website and for your help.