[Emotional changes under oral contraceptives]. / Stimmungsveränderungen unter Ovulationshemmern.

PIP: 278 women on the pill were investigated by means of a questionnaire concerning emotional instability associated with the therapy. The majority reported emotional changes, although 90% did not consider these changes to interfere significantly in their lives. The chief complaints were emotional instability (40.3%), increased need for sleep (39.5%), diminished personal drive (22%), moodiness (26.5%), increased appetite (33.2%), and decreased libido (34.7%). Emotional instability and lack of drive were found to increase with prolonged treatment, in contrast to the general assumption that side effects of the pill decrease or disappear after the 1st few cycles of treatment. The reported emotional symptoms could be due to increased activity of monoamino-oxidase; changes in the enzyme and steroid metabolism system may also play a role. For these patients preparations with low progesterone dosages, sequential treatments, or other contraceptive methods are recommended.^ieng