--- title: Do birth control pills change how women experience premenstrual and menstrual symptoms? description: Birth control pills do not eliminate the cyclical pattern of premenstrual and menstrual symptoms that healthy women naturally experience. Different pill types url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/oral-contraception-and-cyclic-changes-in-premenstrual-and-menstrual-experiences-2003/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do birth control pills change how women experience premenstrual and menstrual symptoms? Cohort study, 2003 # Do birth control pills change how women experience premenstrual and menstrual symptoms? Birth control pills do not eliminate the cyclical pattern of premenstrual and menstrual symptoms that healthy women naturally experience. Different pill types produce similar patterns, though pill users reported less fatigue than non-users. Moderate study design 119 healthy women using monophasic pills, triphasic pills, or non-hormonal contraception ## What they did 119 healthy women tracked their daily symptoms for at least 2 complete menstrual cycles. They were either taking monophasic birth control (same hormone dose daily), triphasic birth control (changing hormone doses), or using non-hormonal contraception. ## What they found All three groups showed significant cyclical changes in symptoms including abdominal fullness, breast fullness, and general premenstrual-like symptoms. Symptoms peaked during the late premenstrual and menstrual phases. Women not using birth control reported more fatigue than pill users. Non-pill users experienced less depression early in their cycle but a sharp rise from early premenstrual through menstrual phase. Monophasic and triphasic pills produced similar symptom patterns. ## What it means for you Birth control pills do not prevent the normal hormonal-driven cyclic changes that cause premenstrual symptoms in healthy women. Pills may reduce some symptoms like fatigue, but other symptoms persist. The type of pill makes little clinically meaningful difference for most healthy women. 119 women studied 2 or more menstrual cycles tracked 3 contraception types compared ## About the study Original title Oral contraception and cyclic changes in premenstrual and menstrual experiences Authors Abraham S, Luscombe G, Soo I Journal Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology Year 2003 Study design Cohort study What was tested Comparison of monophasic pills, triphasic pills, and non-hormonal contraception Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/01674820309039672](https://doi.org/10.3109/01674820309039672) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Fatigue and energy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-fatigue/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2024 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? Systematic review, 2023 How common are menstrual cycle problems and PMS or PMDD in female athletes? Systematic review, 2022 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? Systematic review, 2012 What medications work best for PMDD? Review, 2009 What causes PMDD and what are the treatment options? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗