Case-control study, 2003
Does birth control pill use improve or worsen premenstrual mood?
The pill doesn't affect mood in most women. Mood is most likely to worsen in women with a history of depression, and most likely to improve in women with early-onset premenstrual symptoms or painful periods.
What they did
Studied 976 premenopausal women in Massachusetts. Compared those taking birth control pills with those not taking them to see who experienced mood changes.
What they found
Of 658 women using birth control pills, 16.3 percent reported mood deterioration and 12.3 percent reported improvement. Previous depression was the only significant predictor of mood worsening, with 2-fold increased odds. Early-onset premenstrual mood disturbance and painful periods predicted improvement, with 3.1 and 2.3-fold increased odds respectively.
What it means for you
Birth control pills affect mood in only a minority of women. If you have a history of depression, you're more likely to worsen. If you had early premenstrual symptoms or period pain, you're more likely to improve. Study is limited to women in Massachusetts.
16.3%
mood deterioration on pills
12.3%
mood improvement on pills
2.0
odds ratio for worsening with depression
About the study
- Original title
- Impact of oral contraceptive pill use on premenstrual mood: predictors of improvement and deterioration
- Authors
- Joffe H, Cohen LS, Harlow BL
- Journal
- American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 976
- What was tested
- Oral contraceptive pills
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9378(03)00927-x
Topics
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