Current oral contraceptive use affects explicit and implicit measures of depression in women.

ABSTRACT: Some data suggest that increased depressive symptoms may occur in women using combined oral contraceptives (OCs). However, this idea is controversial and the existing evidence is conflicting. The present study compared negative affect in 53 healthy women (M _age = 19.9 years) during intervals of active daily OC hormone intake and during the washout week of the contraceptive cycle when no exogenous estrogens or progestins are used. A prospective counterbalanced repeated-measures study design was employed. Depressive affect was evaluated using standard psychometric tests of explicit (self-perceived) and implicit negative affect. Implicit measures are considered less subject to bias related to social expectations, self-awareness, or willingness to disclose. Other than their u

SUBMITTER: Hampson E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11527683 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature