Effect of oral contraceptives and some psychological factors on the menstrual experience

Abstract

Fifty-seven women (mean age = 23-5 years), half of whom used an oral contraceptive, completed Moos' menstrual distress questionnaire at each of the three menstrual phases. In addition they kept menstrual diary cards for 50 days, recording days on which menstrual blood loss occurred. During an intermenstrual phase, they completed: a general information questionnaire with questions on menstrual, socialization and demographic variables; Eysenck's personality inventory; the multidimensional health locus of control scale; the Bern sex role inventory; and a measure of preventive health behaviour. Analyses investigating the effects of pill use and psychological factors on the incidence and intensity of menstrual distress found few significant associations between these measures, especially when symptom changes over the menstrual cycle were the dependent variables. The implications of these results for the aetiology of menstrual distress are discussed.

Algorithm for treatment of Premenstrual Syndromes (PMS): Experts' recommendations and limitations

“…A) Transdermal estradiol patch in doses high enough to induce ovulation suppression (0.2 mg), with a progestin add-on [38,[62][63][64]. B) Selected oral monophasic contraceptives containing progestin with a positive mood effect profile [65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73], and c) Vitex angus castus [74][75][76]-which has phytoestrogen properties.…”