Daily Self-Reports on Activities, Life Events, Moods, and Somatic Changes during the Menstrual Cycle

Abstract

Thirty-three undergraduate students (11 males, 11 females taking oral contraceptives, and 11 females not taking oral contraceptives) filled out daily self-reports on pleasant activities, stressful events, moods, and somatic changes for 35 consecutive days. By randomly assigning each male a "pseudo" cycle, the data were analyzed to compare the three samples across the three phases of the menstrual cycle. The results indicated that males reported somewhat more stable but less positive experiences than females. While males reported a stable, low level of pain and water retention throughout the study, both female samples reported increases during the premenstrual and menstrual phases. Reports of negative affect, impaired concentration, and stressful events did not differ by samples, but significant sample by cycle interactions reflected differential increases in the two female samples during the premenstrual and menstrual phases. Subsequent analyses indicated that the experience of stressful events accounted for more of the variance than did cycle phase for these negative mood factors, but not for pain and water retention.

Frequency and Severity of Premenstrual Symptoms in Women Taking Birth Control Pills

“…However, subclinical premenstrual changes are not reli ably suppressed by the BCP [5], and premenstrual syn drome is not consistently relieved by instituting therapy with the BCP [6], The problem of cyclic mood change is further complicated by observations that the use of combined oral contraceptive pills has been associated with depression and other negative side effects on mood [7,8], Studies of premenstrual changes in mood and other symptoms have examined a relatively narrow range of premenstrual symptomatology and, with few exceptions, have examined symptomatology in high-dose pills (50 pg or more of ethinyl oestradiol) [8], While daily symptom recording is perhaps a more accurate means of assessing change, the range of topics which can be covered on a daily basis is somewhat limited. The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to compare the self-report symptomatology in groups of BCP users and non-users by means of a detailed questionnaire which permitted selection of symptomatology from a wide range of possi ble changes.…”

Factores Psicosociales Y Culturales Que Influyen en El Evento De La Menarquia en Adolescentes Posmenárquicas

“…En cualquier sociedad, el significado de la menstruación para la niña y su interpretación personal de su función puede estar relacionado a sus imágenes del cuerpo general y genital, y esto puede tener importantes consecuencias en términos de su sexualidad y elección anticonceptiva futura. Los investigadores preocupa-dos con la sexualidad adolescente y con el embarazo se han interesado también en la socialización menstrual (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16).…”

Prospective versus retrospective assessment of Menstrual cycle symptoms and moods: Role of Attitudes and beliefs

“…Dennerstein & Burrows, 1979). Unpleasant physical symptoms and psychological moods have been associated with both menstrual and premenstrual phases of the normal monthly cycle (Chen & Filsinger, 1987;Englander-Golden, Whitmore, & Dienstbier, 1978;Logue & Moos, 1988;Hamilton, Parry, & Blumenthal, 1988a,b;Marriott & Farragher, 1986;Wilcoxen, Schrader, & Sherif, 1976;Moos & Leiderman, 1978;Lewis, 1990). There are pervasive cultural beliefs that women tend to experience perimenstrual increases in pain, abdominal swelling; headaches, irritability, and moods such as depression and tension (Brooks-Gunn & Ruble, 1980, 1986Ruble & Brooks-Gunn, 1979;Clarke & Ruble, 1978;Laws, Hey, & Eagan, 1985).…”

“…Use of oral contraceptives may attenuate such fluctuations (Andersch & Hahn, 1981). Some symptoms are reduced with use of oral contraceptives (Moos, 1985;Rouse, 1978;Warner & Bancroft, 1988;Wilcoxen et al, 1976), while others are reported as unchanged (Chen & Filsinger, 1987;Graham & Sherwin, 1987;Marriott & Farragher, 1986). While some studies have found an increase in perimenstrual moods and symptoms (Hamilton et al, 1988a,b;Moos & Leiderman, 1978), others have not supported the "popular belief that women's moods are at the mercy of raging hormones" (McFarland, Ross, & DeCourville, 1989, p. 530).…”

“…Wilcoxen et al (1976) reported that premenstrual negative affect was associated with stressful external events. Boyle (1985) reported that paramenstrual women were more sensitive to depressive stimuli and more prone to negative mood states.…”