Randomised trial, 1972
Does birth control change mood and premenstrual symptoms?
Birth control reduced irritability and aggression between periods and made cycles shorter, more regular, and less painful. It also caused nausea, vomiting, water retention, and drowsiness. We cannot be very confident because this was a tiny study of only 8 women.
What they did
Double-blind crossover study of 8 healthy single female university students at Stanford. Each took Enovid (a birth control pill) or placebo for 4 cycles. They tracked their mood daily and had various tests measuring mood, blood hormones, and urine chemicals on 9 days of each cycle.
What they found
On placebo, women had more premenstrual and menstrual irritability, tenseness, and aggression. On Enovid, cycles were shorter, more regular, and less painful. Enovid reduced irritability and aggression between periods but caused nausea, vomiting, water retention, and drowsiness. Blood cortisol was higher throughout the cycle on Enovid.
What it means for you
Birth control may reduce some mood symptoms related to the cycle but causes other side effects. This study is very small (n=8) and from 1972, so results may not apply to newer birth control pills or a broader population.
8
Participants
4
Cycles studied
9
Days per cycle with measurements
About the study
- Original title
- THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE
- Authors
- Sam Silbergeld, Neil Brast, Ernest Pascal Noble
- Journal
- Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey
- Year
- 1972
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 8
- What was tested
- Enovid (oral contraceptive pill) versus placebo
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/00006254-197206000-00018
Topics
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