--- title: Does oral contraceptive use affect depression related to the menstrual cycle? description: Yes. In women not using contraceptives, depression varied with the menstrual cycle day. In women using oral contraceptives, this pattern was much weaker. Also url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/depressive-symptoms-and-oral-contraceptives-1970/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does oral contraceptive use affect depression related to the menstrual cycle? Study, 1970 # Does oral contraceptive use affect depression related to the menstrual cycle? Yes. In women not using contraceptives, depression varied with the menstrual cycle day. In women using oral contraceptives, this pattern was much weaker. Also, 6.6 percent of women on one type of contraceptive were more severely depressed than any woman in the control group. Moderate study design 261 women (168 using oral contraceptives, 93 using physical contraception methods) ## What they did 261 women completed a depression scale. 168 were taking oral contraceptives and 93 were using physical contraception methods. Researchers looked at how depression scores varied with the menstrual cycle day in each group. ## What they found In the control group (not using hormonal contraceptives), depression varied by menstrual cycle day. In the oral contraceptive group, this pattern was much weaker - depression was mainly in the 1 to 2 days before menstruation. Women taking a specific contraceptive containing lynoestrenol 2.5 mg and mestranol 0.075 mg had higher rates of pessimism, dissatisfaction, crying, and tension compared to other contraceptives and the control group. Overall, 6.6 percent of women on oral contraceptives were more severely depressed than any woman in the control group. ## What it means for you Oral contraceptives appear to reduce the link between the menstrual cycle and depression. The hormones prevent the cyclic depression some women without contraceptives experience. Some specific contraceptives increased mood symptoms, suggesting the hormones used matter. This was not a randomized trial, so it cannot prove contraceptives caused the changes. 261 total women 168 women on oral contraceptives 6.6 percent with severe depression (contraceptive group) ## About the study Original title Depressive symptoms and oral contraceptives Authors Herzberg BN, Johnson AL, Brown S Journal British medical journal Year 1970 Study design Study Participants 261 What was tested Oral contraceptive use (various types) compared with physical contraception methods Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1136/bmj.4.5728.142](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.4.5728.142) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2024 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? Systematic review, 2023 How common are menstrual cycle problems and PMS or PMDD in female athletes? Systematic review, 2022 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? Randomised trial, 2017 Does the combined oral contraceptive pill affect mood? Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? Systematic review, 2014 Do estrogen and progesterone change how the brain processes emotions and decisions? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗