---
title: Does oral contraceptive help PMS and affect sexual interest? | Niyora
description: The oral contraceptive improved mood during the premenstrual phase but decreased sexual interest during the menstrual and postmenstrual phases. The mood impro
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-relationship-between-mood-and-sexuality-in-women-using-an-oral-contraceptive-1993/
---

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- Does oral contraceptive help PMS and affect sexual interest?

Randomised trial, 1993

# Does oral contraceptive help PMS and affect sexual interest?

The oral contraceptive improved mood during the premenstrual phase but decreased sexual interest during the menstrual and postmenstrual phases. The mood improvement was not the cause of the decreased sexual interest.

 Moderate study design

45 university women with premenstrual complaints

## What they did

A randomized controlled trial with 45 women with premenstrual complaints. Women rated mood and sexual interest daily for one baseline cycle, then were randomly assigned to placebo or a triphasic oral contraceptive for 3 months.

## What they found

Women on the oral contraceptive reported decreased sexual interest during the menstrual and postmenstrual phases. Both the oral contraceptive and placebo improved mood, particularly during the premenstrual phase. There was little evidence that mood and sexual interest moved together in either group.

## What it means for you

While oral contraceptives can help premenstrual mood symptoms, they may reduce sexual interest as a separate effect. The study was small and only looked at one type of triphasic contraceptive.

45

women studied

3

months of treatment

1

baseline cycle tracked

## About the study

Original title The relationship between mood and sexuality in women using an oral contraceptive as a treatment for premenstrual symptoms Authors Graham CA, Sherwin BB Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 1993 Study design Randomised trial Participants 45 What was tested Triphasic oral contraceptive for 3 months Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(93)90024-f](https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(93)90024-f)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Libido and sexual function](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sexual-function/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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