Comparison Between Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in the Management of Moderate to Severe Premenstrual Syndrome

International Journal of Medical Science

© 2024 by SSRG - IJMS Journal

Volume 11 Issue 3

Year of Publication : 2024

Authors : Ali Ahmad Aldos, Ahmad Yousef, Maisoon Dayoub

10.14445/23939117/IJMS-V11I3P108

How to Cite?

Ali Ahmad Aldos, Ahmad Yousef, Maisoon Dayoub, "Comparison Between Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in the Management of Moderate to Severe Premenstrual Syndrome," SSRG International Journal of Medical Science, vol. 11,  no. 3, pp. 51-58, 2024. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23939117/IJMS-V11I3P108

Abstract:

Background: Premenstrual syndrome, in its moderate and severe stages, is a troubling condition for many women because of the disturbance it causes on the personal, professional, and social levels. Therefore, treating it correctly and appropriately has great importance in improving the psychological and physical condition of afflicted women, as well as increasing productivity and interaction with society. Objective: The main objective of the study is to compare the effectiveness of the two drug groups that are considered the main options in the management of clinically significant symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, which are combined oral contraceptives and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective, comparative cohort study that included a sample of 150 women who met the inclusion criteria for the study. The sample was divided into two groups, each group including 75 women, where the first group received treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and the second group received treatment with combined oral contraceptives; a comparison was conducted between the two drug groups in terms of their effect on the severity of the psychological and physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and also in terms of their side effects. Results: There was a remarkable improvement in both groups in terms of psychological and physical symptoms, as these symptoms ranged in severity before treatment from moderate to severe, and after treatment, symptoms ranged from non-existent in the vast majority of women to mild in the remaining percentage of women, with a slight superiority for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the management of psychological symptoms. Conclusion: Both combined oral contraceptives and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be used in the management of moderate to severe premenstrual syndrome, which causes functional disability in affected women, as both drug groups showed similar effectiveness in managing this syndrome.

Keywords:

Premenstrual syndrome, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, Combined oral contraceptives.

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