HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Effect of an oral contraceptive on emotional distress, anxiety and depression of women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective study.

AbstractSTUDY QUESTION:
We aimed to determine the impact of an oral contraceptive (OC) treatment on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), depressive and anxiety symptoms in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
SUMMARY ANSWER:
OC therapy in PCOS improves hirsutism and menstrual disturbances, along with HRQOL. This improvement is not associated with any change in the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms. WHAT IS KNOWN AND WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS: Limited data are available regarding the effects of an OC on HRQOL, and depressive and anxiety symptoms in PCOS. This study reports the effects of the ethinyl estradiol/drospirenone (EE/DRSP) OC on an HRQOL questionnaire for women with PCOS (PCOSQ), depressive and anxiety symptoms after 6 months of treatment.
DESIGN:
Prospective observational study. All participants completed PCOSQ, Beck Depression Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and General Health Questionnaire. Serum androgens, fasting insulin, fasting and postload glucose values during an oral glucose tolerance test were measured. Changes in these variables and the scores of questionnaires were evaluated after 6 months of treatment with EE/DRSP (3 mg/30 μg).
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING:
Thirty-six patients with PCOS without a previous psychiatric diagnosis were included in the study.
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE:
The main complaints of the patients were hirsutism and irregular menses. Accordingly, menstrual and hirsutism problems were the most serious concerns followed by emotional problems on the PCOSQ. Eight patients (22.2%) had clinical depression scores. After treatment, regular menstrual cycles were attained and hirsutism was significantly improved in all patients. Hirsutism and emotion domains of the PCOSQ improved at 6 months (P< 0.05 for both). Depression was improved in five of eight depressive patients and four new patients showed increased depression scores. Overall, depression, anxiety mean scores and depression rates did not show a significant change.
BIAS, CONFOUNDING AND OTHER REASONS FOR CAUTION:
The study is subject to the strengths and limitations of observational study design. A limitation of our study is the small sample size and lack of data related to possible confounding factors.
GENERALIZABILITY TO OTHER POPULATIONS:
Generalizable to Caucasian PCOS.
AuthorsNese Cinar, Ayla Harmanci, Basaran Demir, Bulent O Yildiz
JournalHuman reproduction (Oxford, England) (Hum Reprod) Vol. 27 Issue 6 Pg. 1840-5 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1460-2350 [Electronic] England
PMID22473394 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Androstenes
  • Contraceptives, Oral
  • drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol combination
  • Ethinyl Estradiol
Topics
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Androstenes (administration & dosage)
  • Anxiety (drug therapy)
  • Contraceptives, Oral (therapeutic use)
  • Depression (drug therapy)
  • Ethinyl Estradiol (administration & dosage)
  • Female
  • Hirsutism (drug therapy, etiology)
  • Humans
  • Menstruation Disturbances (drug therapy, etiology)
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (complications, drug therapy, psychology)
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life
  • Stress, Psychological (drug therapy)
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: