Table 1.

Demographic and clinical variables in the study population (n = 202).

Clinical variables	Combined oral contraceptive (n = 102)	Placebo (n = 100)	P
Age (years)	23.8 ± 4.2	24.8 ± 4.2	0.097
Married/partner, n (%)	61 (59.8)	49 (49.5)	0.158
University education, n (%)	78 (76.5)	75 (76.5)	0.992
BMI (kg/m2)	22.3 ± 2.6	22.5 ± 2.5	0.532
Smokers, n (%)	7 (6.9)	8 (8.2)	0.727
Previous hormonal contraceptive use, n (%)	84 (82.4)	82 (82.0)	0.947
Duration of previous hormonal contraceptive use (years)	4.8 ± 3.5	4.8 ± 3.3	0.945
Intercourse last four weeks	75 (74.3)	74 (77.9)	0.551
Dysmenorrhoea, n (%)	3 (2.9)	8 (8.0)	0.113
Endometriosis, n (%)	1 (1.0)	0 (0.0)	1.00
PCOS, n (%)	2 (2.0)	0 (0.0)	0.498
Any mood disorder, n (%)	9 (8.8)	5 (5.0)	0.285
Any anxiety disorder, n (%)	7 (6.9)	8 (8.0)	0.758
Current use of psychotropic drugs	9 (8.8)	7 (7.0)	0.631
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors	8 (7.8)	5 (5.0)	0.410
Other	2 (2.0)	2 (2.0)	1.000

Results are presented as mean ± s.d. or n (%). Frequencies are reported in relation to available responses, missing cases evident in 2–4 cases depending on variable. P value according to chi-square test.

BMI, body mass index; PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome.