Steroid Contraceptives: Neuro-Psychiatric & Electroencephalographic Complications

Eighty women attending the Family Planning Clinic showed negative findings when submitted to a special gynaecological and neuro-psychiatric questionnaire, as well as clinical neuro-psychiatric and electroencephalographic examinations, to exclude present or past menstrual troubles, premenstrual tension symptoms and/or neuro-psychiatric illness. They were divided into eight groups each of ten cases receiving one type of steroid contraceptive throughout the whole period of study. Repeated submission to the previously used neuro-psychiatric questionnaire as well as clinical neuro-psychiatric examination was carried out every three months. EEG tracings were recorded at the end of the trial. Neuro-psychiatric side-effects were noted in sixty-one cases (76.2%). EEG changes were reported in forty-eight cases (60%). It was concluded that both components of the steroid should be included in the pill preferably in minimum concentration. Selective use or relative increase of either components would be associated with more side-effects.