Survey study, 2005
Does the menstrual cycle affect obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms?
Yes, for some women. OCD started at menarche in 22% of women and worsened premenstrually in 20%. It worsened after childbirth in 50% of women who became pregnant.
What they did
Cross-sectional study where 46 women with OCD completed interviews from 2001 to 2003 about whether their OCD started or worsened during reproductive events like menarche, pregnancy, postpartum, or menopause.
What they found
OCD began at menarche in 22% (n=10), at pregnancy in 2% (n=1), at postpartum in 7% (n=3), and at menopause in 2% (n=1). It worsened premenstrually in 20% (9/45), at pregnancy in 8% (1/12), at postpartum in 50% (6/12), and at menopause in 8% (1/12). Women with more premenstrual mood symptoms had 5.1-fold higher risk of premenstrual OCD worsening and 2.7-fold higher risk of postpartum worsening.
What it means for you
For some women, OCD symptoms are linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. This study relied on women remembering when symptoms started, which is not always accurate.
46
women with OCD
22%
with OCD onset at menarche
20%
with premenstrual OCD worsening
About the study
- Original title
- Female reproductive cycle and obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Authors
- Labad J, Menchón JM, Alonso P et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical psychiatry
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 10
- What was tested
- None, interviews about symptom timing
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v66n0404
Topics
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