Associations between self-reported mood-related symptoms and early contraceptive method discontinuation

A higher proportion of individuals using progestin-only contraception reported mood-related symptoms as a reason for discontinuation within the first 6 months compared to those using combined or nonhormonal methods. However, self-reported baseline mood-related symptoms were associated with lower discontinuation rates among progestin-only users, indicating a complex interaction between mood symptom burden, method choice, and (dis)continuation behaviors. These findings underscore the need for nuanced patient counseling, acknowledging mood-related concerns as legitimate and potentially method-specific, and for future research to explore these relationships using validated mood assessment tools and longer-term outcomes.