Associations Between the Use of Contraception and the Psychological Well-being of Women

Abstract

Introduction Reproductive events have a complex impact on women's lives. The possible effects of endogenous and exogenous gonadal hormones on women's psychological status are matters of debate. Aims This research aims at examining mood and sleep symptoms of women in different reproductive stages and in association to contraceptive use. Methods Data were collected at the Centralized Family Planning of the City of Helsinki (March 2012-February 2013) through a questionnaire regarding participants' reproductive features, psychiatric history and current psychological status at baseline and after 3 months. Results A total of 208 women (18-50 years) accepted to participate: 52 (25.0%) starting contraception, 68 (32.7%) stopping or changing to a different method, 62 (29.8%) continuing with their current method, and 26 (12.5%) breastfeeding women. The response rate at follow-up was 73%. Psychiatric symptoms during the previous month were commonly reported both at baseline and follow-up (sleep symptoms: 86.1% and 80.3%, respectively; anxiety and depressive symptoms: 61.8% and 55.6%; death and suicide thoughts: 10.1% and 5.3%), with no differences between the contraceptive groups. At follow-up, women who continued with their contraception had higher risks of early awakening and tiredness (OR=3.312 and OR=2.942; p p Conclusions Sleep, anxiety and depressive symptoms are common among women; the use of contraception seems to only marginally associate with these symptoms.