Female Reproductive Cycle and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Background: The aim of our study was to assess whether there is a relationship between reproductive cycle events and the initiation or changes in symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Method: Forty-six female outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for OCD completed a semistructured interview at our OCD unit to assess the relationship between reproductive cycle events and OCD. Dates of data collection were from January 2001 to December 2003.

Results: In our sample, OCD onset occurred in the same year as menarche in 22% (N = 10), at pregnancy in 2% (N = 1), at postpartum in 7% (N = 3), and at menopause in 2% (N = 1). Worsening of preexisting OCD was reported by 20% of patients (9/45) at premenstruum, 8% (1/12) at pregnancy, 50% (6/12) at postpartum, and 8% (1/12) at menopause. The number of premenstrual mood symptoms, which included anxiety, irritability, mood lability and depressed mood, was associated with both premenstrual worsening of OCD (OR = 5.1, p < .01) and onset or worsening of OCD at postpartum (OR = 2.7, p < .05). Patients with an onset or worsening of OCD at postpartum also more frequently reported premenstrual worsening of OCD and previous history of major depressive disorder, including postpartum depression (p < = .05 for all).

Conclusion: In a substantial number of patients, the onset or worsening of OCD was related to reproductive cycle events, especially at menarche and postpartum. Certain women with OCD seem to be vulnerable to worsening of OCD at different reproductive periods that imply hormonal fluctuations, and premenstruum and postpartum were the 2 reproductive events with a greater vulnerability. Those patients whose OCD symptoms appeared to be related to reproductive events also exhibited a greater history of mood symptoms (premenstrual depression and major depressive episodes).