---
title: Do birth control pills reduce psychological symptoms of PMS? | Niyora
description: Yes. Women who had used birth control pills reported significantly lower rates of depression (P=0.039), sadness (P=0.012), and anger (P=0.032) related to PMS,
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/evaluation-of-relationship-between-oral-contraceptive-usages-with-psychiatry-2019/
---

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- Do birth control pills reduce psychological symptoms of PMS?

Survey study, 2019

# Do birth control pills reduce psychological symptoms of PMS?

Yes. Women who had used birth control pills reported significantly lower rates of depression (P=0.039), sadness (P=0.012), and anger (P=0.032) related to PMS, but we cannot be certain the pills caused this because the study did not randomly assign women to use them.

 Early or limited evidence

Female university students in Iran

## What they did

Cross-sectional survey of female students at a medical university in Iran. They completed a standard PMS questionnaire and reported their history of oral contraceptive use.

## What they found

65.5% of participants had some degree of PMS. Among women with PMS symptoms, those who had previously used oral contraceptives reported significantly lower rates of depression (P=0.039), sadness (P=0.012), sobering up (P=0.003), and anger (P=0.032) compared to those who had not used them.

## What it means for you

Birth control pills may reduce some psychological symptoms of PMS including depression, sadness, and anger. However, this was a comparison between women who chose to use pills and those who did not, so other factors could explain the differences. A randomized controlled trial would be needed to prove the pills caused the improvement.

65.5%

had some PMS

P=0.039

depression lower in pills

P=0.012

sadness lower in pills

## About the study

Original title Evaluation of Relationship between Oral Contraceptive Usages with Psychiatry Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome Authors M. Zuhdi Zainul Majdi, Maryam Farjamfar, Pouneh Zolfaghari et al. Journal International Journal of Health Studies Year 2019 Study design Survey study What was tested Oral contraceptive (birth control pill) use Read the paper [doi.org/10.22100/ijhs.v5i4.692](https://doi.org/10.22100/ijhs.v5i4.692)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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