Influence of depressed mood and psychological stress symptoms on perceived oral contraceptive side effects and discontinuation in young minority women.
BACKGROUND
We examined the influence of depressed mood and psychological stress on oral contraceptive (OC) side effects and discontinuation.


METHODS
We administered standard psychological instruments to 354 young women (13-24 years old) beginning a 6-month OC continuation intervention trial and questions on OC side effects and use at 6 months. Logisitic regression determined the relationships between psychological conditions, perceived OC side effects and continuation rates.


RESULTS
Baseline depressed mood (21%) and stress (19%) and 6-month mood (25%) and weight changes (57%) were relatively common. Only 38% continued OCs at 6 months. Depressed mood [odds ratio (OR) 2.27, confidence interval (CI) 1.25-4.15, p=.007] and stress (OR 2.07, CI 1.12-3.82, p=.02) were associated with perceived OC-related moodiness; depressed mood was associated with perceived weight loss (OR 1.89, CI 1.01-3.55, p=.05). Depressed mood (OR 0.54, CI 0.29-0.99, p=.04), stress (OR 0.48, CI 0.25-0.91, p=.03) and perceived weight change (OR 0.60, CI 0.38-0.94, p=.03) all reduced the likelihood of OC continuation.


CONCLUSIONS
Young women with adverse psychological symptoms are at risk for perceived OC side effects and discontinuation.
Office of Population Research, Center for Health and Wellbeing, Princeton University, 228 Wallace Hall, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. kshall@princeton.edu
Kelli Stidham
KS
Hall
Katharine O'Connell
KO
White
Vaughn I
VI
Rickert
Nancy
N
Reame
Carolyn
C
Westhoff
D000293:Adolescent; D001835:Body Weight; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D019964:Mood Disorders; D010465:Perception; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral