---
title: Does hormonal contraception affect mental health and sexual desire?
description: Clear effects were found on sexual desire (decreased) and painful menstruation (reduced). No clear difference was found in psychological symptoms overall, tho
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/mental-changes-in-women-due-to-the-use-of-hormonal-contraception-2015/
---

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- Does hormonal contraception affect mental health and sexual desire?

Interview study, 2015

# Does hormonal contraception affect mental health and sexual desire?

Clear effects were found on sexual desire (decreased) and painful menstruation (reduced). No clear difference was found in psychological symptoms overall, though interviews suggested some women may experience mental changes.

 Early or limited evidence

30 women interviewed 3 months to 2 years after starting or stopping combined hormonal contraception.

## What they did

30 women were interviewed 3 months to 2 years after they started or stopped combined hormonal contraception (birth control pills with estrogen and progestin). Interviews were supplemented with a 16-symptom rating scale where women rated the effects on physical, mental, and sexual changes.

## What they found

Both interviews and the rating scale showed a clear effect of hormonal contraception on decreased sexual desire and reduction in painful menstruation. No clear difference was found in psychological symptoms overall, although the interviews suggested there might be some mental changes that the rating scale did not capture.

## What it means for you

Hormonal contraception clearly affects sexual desire and menstrual pain, but effects on mental health are uncertain. The difference between what interviews showed (possible mental changes) and the rating scale (no clear difference) means more research is needed to understand mental effects. This is a small qualitative study without a comparison group, so findings may vary widely among women.

30

women interviewed

16

symptom scale items

## About the study

Original title [Mental changes in women due to the use of hormonal contraception] Authors Ottová B, Weiss P Journal Ceska gynekologie Year 2015 Study design Interview study What was tested Combined hormonal contraception (start or stop) Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26606121/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26606121/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Libido and sexual function](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sexual-function/)[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.

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