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Effects of Hormonal Contraception on Mood

  • Family Planning (A Burke, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review will clarify the complex relationship of hormonal contraception and mood in women both with and without mood disorders, in adolescents, and in postpartum women.

Recent Findings

Though the overall effect of hormonal contraception on mood does not appear to have a significant clinical impact, several recent population-based studies suggest adolescents are potentially more vulnerable than adults.

Summary

Strategic initiation of hormonal contraception may mitigate mood symptoms, with continuous regimens of hormonal therapy demonstrating some benefit over cyclic regimens. Additional rigorous studies are needed to measure the impact of hormonal contraception on mood relative to dose and formulation, particularly in those women with pre-existing mood disorders.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Health System, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Andrea Hsu Roe

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Priya Kumar-Kaparaboyna & Margo Nathan

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Caryn Dutton

Authors
  1. Andrea Hsu Roe
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  2. Priya Kumar-Kaparaboyna
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  3. Margo Nathan
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  4. Caryn Dutton
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Caryn Dutton.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Roe reports grants from Sebela Pharmaceuticals, outside the submitted work.

Dr. Kumar-Kaparaboyna has nothing to disclose.

Dr. Nathan has nothing to disclose.

Dr. Dutton has nothing to disclose.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Roe, A.H., Kumar-Kaparaboyna, P., Nathan, M. et al. Effects of Hormonal Contraception on Mood. Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep 9, 112–119 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-020-00295-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-020-00295-9

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