---
title: Does the type of contraceptive pill affect premenstrual symptoms?
description: Women taking a monophasic pill (steady hormone levels) had less breast tenderness before their period than women on other pills or no hormonal contraceptives.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/relationship-between-premenstrual-symptoms-and-oral-contraceptive-use-a-1990/
---

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- Does the type of contraceptive pill affect premenstrual symptoms?

Survey study, 1990

# Does the type of contraceptive pill affect premenstrual symptoms?

Women taking a monophasic pill (steady hormone levels) had less breast tenderness before their period than women on other pills or no hormonal contraceptives. Other premenstrual symptoms were similar across all groups.

 Moderate study design

35 on monophasic pills, 30 on triphasic pills, 57 on non-hormonal contraceptives, all matched for age, job, and parity.

## What they did

Compared three groups: 35 women on a monophasic pill, 30 on a triphasic pill, and 57 using non-hormonal contraceptives. All were matched for age, job, and number of children. Women recorded symptoms weekly for 2 to 3 cycles.

## What they found

Breast tenderness before the period was less common in the monophasic group than in the other two groups. Mood, irritability, energy, tension, bloating, and sexual interest changed across the cycle in all groups with similar patterns. The monophasic group tended to have more symptoms during the period rather than before it.

## What it means for you

A steady-hormone pill might reduce breast tenderness compared to other contraceptives. However, most other symptoms followed the same pattern regardless of which contraceptive was used, which is surprising. Results need to be tested in women with severe PMS symptoms, not just women with mild symptoms as in this study.

35

women on monophasic pills

30

women on triphasic pills

57

women using non-hormonal contraceptives

## About the study

Original title Relationship between premenstrual symptoms and oral contraceptive use: a controlled study Authors Walker A, Bancroft J Journal Psychosomatic medicine Year 1990 Study design Survey study Participants 57 What was tested Monophasic pill versus triphasic pill versus non-hormonal contraceptives. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199001000-00007](https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199001000-00007)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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