AN INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF EXPECTANCY ON AFFECTIVE AND PHYSICAL CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH ORAL-CONTRACEPTIVE USE

The effect of low-dose oral contraceptives on psychological and physical complaints was investigated prospectively in a group of 19 first-time users. Their responses to questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, physical symptoms, life changes, and expectations of negative or positive consequences of oral contraceptives were compared to a group of age-matched women who had been using the same type of oral contraceptive for at least 6 months. All subjects were assessed at recruitment, 1 month, and 3 months later. No group differences were found prior to initiation of contraceptive use by the first-time users, or 1 and 3 months after the first-time users began taking oral contraceptives. Non-significant correlations were found between negative expectancy (expected increases in depression, anxiety, menstrual discomfort, and other negative psychological or physical changes), anxiety, depression, physical complaints, and life changes in first-time users, although 65% did expect at least one negative effect of oral contraceptives. Our findings suggest that in normal young women, oral contraceptive use does not affect psychological functioning.