Side effects of oral contraceptives
Bakker, C.B.; Dightman, C.R.
Obstet Gynecol 28(3): 373-379
1966
Document Number: 472395
In the evaluation of whether weight gain, fluid retention, depression, and libido changes were bona fide side effects of oral contraception with norethynodrel, our data justified the following conclusions. There is no indication that actual weight gain is associated with norethynodrel. Patients, however, are inclined to attribute weight gain to the pill in order to avoid personal responsibility for it. Fluid retention is a significant problem in approximately 30% of the subjects. The fluid retention, however, is not associated with depression or tension. Asa matter of fact, while, objectively, there is no difference in the patients' depression or anxiety levels when they are taking or not taking the pills, subjectively they complain of greater tension when they are not taking the pills. This finding suggests that the reported feeling of discomfort is related more to the patients' apprehension about possible pregnancy than to the retention of fluids. Depression is not a bona fide side effect of norethynodrel. Occasional depressive episodes are not uncommon in young, overburdened housewives. When such episodes occur in patients taking the drug they are readily blamed on the pill, which in this way fills a scapegoat function and helps the patient to increase her self-esteem by avoiding the responsibility for irritability, withdrawal, etc. Libido changes per se cannot be considered a side effect of norethynodrel. Although the basic interest in sexual relations did not change in the subjects, their frequency of sexual intercourse and their enjoyment of it increased as a result of their complete confidence in oral contraceptives and the absence of bothersome, often disliked mechanical devices.