An assessment of psychological state associated with the menstrual cycle in users of oral contraception

Reports of state in relation to the menstrual cycle were investigated using daily measures of state in a group of 65 family planning clinic attenders without pre-existing menstrual complaint. Women reported significant changes in their physical and psychological state prior to menstruation which reverted to "normal' levels 3-5 days after the onset of menstruation. No statistically significant differences were found between the patterns of oral contraceptive users and non-users.