---
title: Do women with PMS have worse balance when taking birth control pills?
description: Yes. Women with PMS had significantly worse balance during the active pill phase (when hormones are present) than during the hormone-free phase. Women without
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/postural-control-in-women-with-premenstrual-symptoms-during-oral-contraceptive-2011/
---

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- Do women with PMS have worse balance when taking birth control pills?

Non-randomised trial, 2011

# Do women with PMS have worse balance when taking birth control pills?

Yes. Women with PMS had significantly worse balance during the active pill phase (when hormones are present) than during the hormone-free phase. Women without PMS showed no difference between phases.

 Early or limited evidence

15 women on low-dose oral contraceptives in Spain (6 with PMS, 9 without)

## What they did

Prospective study of 15 women on low-dose birth control pills. Women were divided into 6 with premenstrual symptoms and 9 without. Balance was measured using a force platform during the active pill phase and hormone-free phase.

## What they found

Women with PMS had significantly larger displacement area (worse balance) during the active pill phase than the hormone-free phase. Women without PMS showed no difference between phases. Women with PMS also had worse balance than those without PMS during the active pill phase. Negative mood symptoms were the main premenstrual symptoms.

## What it means for you

Negative mood in PMS may affect brain centers that control balance. However, the sample is very small and the exact mechanism is unclear. Much larger studies are needed to confirm this finding.

15

Total women in the study

6

Women with PMS symptoms

9

Women without PMS symptoms

## About the study

Original title Postural control in women with premenstrual symptoms during oral contraceptive treatment Authors Ekenros L, Hirschberg AL, Bäckström T et al. Journal Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica Year 2011 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 15 What was tested None - observational study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0412.2010.01021.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0412.2010.01021.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)

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