Conducting high-quality research on the psychological impact of oral contraceptive use

Citation

Cobey KD & Buunk AP (2012) Conducting high-quality research on the psychological impact of oral contraceptive use. Contraception, 86 (4), pp. 330-331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2012.01.011

Abstract
First paragraph: Oral contraceptives are the most extensively studied pills in the history of medicine [1]. It is therefore unfortunate to see how little of this research has been directed towards the study of potential psychological consequences resulting from use. Scientists, health care providers and advocates who read this journal are privy to the latest breaking research on improved contraceptive technology from researchers in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, endocrinology, demography and biology; however, rarely are readers presented with research testing the potential influence of oral contraceptives on psychological well-being. While we obviously concede that it is of extreme importance to identify physical health risks associated with oral contraceptive pill use, it is unfortunate that such research is often carried out entirely independently of research examining the potential for psychological consequences. To date, systematically controlled studies investigating the psychological effects of oral contraceptives tend to be limited to research on generalized mood, depression and libido. While great work has been done in these areas (e.g., Refs. [2], [3] and [4]), research has not yet adequately addressed the psychological impact of contraceptive use within a wider context, namely, interpersonal relationships. Accordingly, a number of interesting questions remain unanswered, for example: Are changes in female mood reported in contraceptive users noticeable to male partners, friends or colleagues? Do changes in libido affect the durability of romantic relationships?

Journal
Contraception: Volume 86, Issue 4