Oral Contraceptives, Depression, and Libido

Herzberg, Brenda; Draper, Katharine; Johnson, Anthony L.; Nicol, Gillian C.

doi:10.1136/bmj.3.5773.495

Cited by 82 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Severe depression has been found to occur in 5-6% of oral contraceptive users, something true of only 1 4 % of those not using this form of contraception (Herzberg et al, 1970). In fact depression is one of the most common reasons given for stopping taking the pill (Hertzberg et al, 1971). Winston (1973) found that of 145 women who began using the oral contraceptive 136 reported less depression in the premenstrual stage, however, the development of depression and irritability caused nine to stop using this form of contraception.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does low iron status influence psychological functioning?

Fordy

Benton

1994

J Human Nutrition Diet

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To examine the possibility that low iron status has functional consequences, 297 young adults were distinguished in terms of serum ferritin levels and were compared using measures of psychological functioning: digit span, reaction times, a measure of sustained attention and a questionnaire measure of mental health. Of the 297 young adults tested 51.6% of females and 11.5% of males had serum ferritin levels below 20 ng/1. In males being vegetarian, and in females dieting, was associated with lower ferritin values. In males, and females not taking the oral contraceptive pill, there was no association between low ferritin status and poor performance on various cognitive tests. In females taking the oral contraceptive pill, those with ferritin values below 5 ng/ml were significantly more likely to report being depressed. It was concluded that for most of this population there was little evidence that low iron status was associated with changes in psychological status.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does low iron status influence psychological functioning?

Fordy

Benton

1994

J Human Nutrition Diet

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…therefore, not unlikely that catecholaminergic deficiency plays a major role in precipi tating depressive symptoms in some OC us ers. This may be relevant to suggestions that OC-induced depression is characterized by specific symptoms (3,28,58).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Oral Contraceptives on Tryptophan and Tyrosine Availability: Evidence for a Possible Contribution to Mental Depression

Møller¹

1981

Neuropsychobiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The plasma concentrations of branched-chain and aromatic amino acids, free tryptophan, and kynurenine have been determined in oral contraceptive users and comparable controls. There were no differences between progestogen users and controls in either of the biochemical measurements. The estrogen-progestogen users showed elevated plasma levels of total tryptophan and decreased levels of tyrosine. Mestranol was less potent than ethinylestradiol on the effect on plasma tyrosine. There was a clear trend that the incidence of adverse reactions was related to the decrease in tyrosine levels. The plasma ratio of tryptophan to competing amino acids was increased in the estrogen-progestogen users, whereas the ratio of tyrosine to competitors was severely decreased suggesting a decreased brain tyrosine concentration. It is suggested that a substrate-limited reduction in brain noradrenaline synthesis may contribute to the occurrence of depressive symptoms in susceptible individuals on estrogen-progestogen contraceptives.

show abstract

“…In 1969, Cullberg et al prospectively studied 198 women and found that 5% had decreased libido [56]. Two years later, Herzberg et al prospectively assessed side effects in 218 women on COC and also found a loss of libido in 5% [57]. Other retrospective trials from the late 1960s and early 1970s reported loss of libido in 14-32% of patients.…”

Section: Negative Effects On Libidomentioning

confidence: 99%