Postural control in women with premenstrual symptoms during oral contraceptive treatment.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates postural control among women with and without premenstrual symptoms (PMS) on oral contraceptive (OC) treatment.

DESIGN

Prospective repeated measures design.

SETTING

Women's health clinical research unit at a university hospital.

POPULATION: Fifteen women using low-dose monophasic oral contraceptives participated in the study. Depending on premenstrual symptoms, the women were divided into one PMS group and one non-PMS group.

METHODS

Postural control (displacement area) was measured using an AMTI(®) force platform during the active hormone phase (OC phase) and the hormone-free phase (non-OC phase) of the pill chart. Premenstrual symptoms were evaluated prospectively using the Cyclicity Diagnoser.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Displacement area as a measure of postural control.

RESULTS

Six of 15 women showed premenstrual symptoms (primarily negative mood symptoms) between the phases and were considered having premenstrual symptoms. When analyzing postural control, the PMS group displayed a significantly greater displacement area in the OC-phase compared to the non-OC phase. In contrast, the non-PMS group did not show any significant difference between the phases. Furthermore, the PMS group had significantly greater displacement area during the OC phase compared to the non-PMS group.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study shows that women with premenstrual symptoms have greater displacement area than those without premenstrual symptoms during the active phase of oral contraceptive treatment. Negative mood symptoms may affect the maintenance of postural control by central interactions. Further studies are needed to clarify the precise mechanism for altered postural control in women with premenstrual symptoms.