Open AccessAdverse mood symptoms with oral contraceptives
Author(s) -
POROMAA INGER SUNDSTRÖM,
SEGEBLADH BIRGITTA
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0412.2011.01333.x
Subject(s) - drospirenone , desogestrel , medicine , mood , pill , adverse effect , ethinylestradiol , placebo , decreased libido , menstrual cycle , gynecology , obstetrics , psychiatry , population , family planning , libido , hormone , pharmacology , alternative medicine , environmental health , pathology , research methodology
In spite of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) having been available for more than 50 years, surprisingly little is known about the prevalence of truly COC‐related adverse mood symptoms and about the underlying biological mechanisms of proposed changes in mood and affect. Precise estimates of COC‐related adverse mood symptoms are not available due to the lack of placebo‐controlled trials. In prospective trials the frequency of women who report deteriorated mood or deteriorated emotional well‐being varies between 4 and 10%, but it can be assumed that the causal relation in these prevalence rates is overestimated. Adverse mood symptoms and somatic symptoms are most pronounced during the pill‐free interval of the treatment cycles, but whether extended COC regimens would be more favorable in this respect is not known. COCs with anti‐androgenic progestagens, such as drospirenone and desogestrel, appear more favorable in terms of mood symptoms than progestagens with a more androgenic profile. Available data suggest that lower doses of ethinylestradiol could be beneficial.