Non-randomised trial, 2011
Do women with PMS have worse balance when taking birth control pills?
Yes. Women with PMS had significantly worse balance during the active pill phase (when hormones are present) than during the hormone-free phase. Women without PMS showed no difference between phases.
What they did
Prospective study of 15 women on low-dose birth control pills. Women were divided into 6 with premenstrual symptoms and 9 without. Balance was measured using a force platform during the active pill phase and hormone-free phase.
What they found
Women with PMS had significantly larger displacement area (worse balance) during the active pill phase than the hormone-free phase. Women without PMS showed no difference between phases. Women with PMS also had worse balance than those without PMS during the active pill phase. Negative mood symptoms were the main premenstrual symptoms.
What it means for you
Negative mood in PMS may affect brain centers that control balance. However, the sample is very small and the exact mechanism is unclear. Much larger studies are needed to confirm this finding.
15
Total women in the study
6
Women with PMS symptoms
9
Women without PMS symptoms
About the study
- Original title
- Postural control in women with premenstrual symptoms during oral contraceptive treatment
- Authors
- Ekenros L, Hirschberg AL, Bäckström T et al.
- Journal
- Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica
- Year
- 2011
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 15
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0412.2010.01021.x
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