Journal of Nursing & Care

The Usefulness of Low-Dose Oral Contraceptive in the Treatment of Women of Reproductive Age with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities: Five Case Reports

Abstract

Akiko Yamamoto, Shuhei Ide, Shihou Honzawa, Tatsuo Masuyama, Yuji Iwasaki and Makiko Kaga

Menstrual cycle has an influence on mind and body of any woman. A collection of symptoms that emerges one or two weeks before menstruation begins is called premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and that involves variety of complex emotional and physical changes. However, aggravation of epileptic attacks during premenstrual period alone has been focused in women with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID). Exacerbation of various symptoms, other than epilepsy, was recognized as PMS in five cases, and these include muscular hypertonia, fever, tachycardia, flushing on face, nausea and vomiting. In these cases, the PMS symptoms were successfully managed with the low-dose oral contraceptive preparations. PMS among patients with SMID are often found to be difficult to diagnose. The use of the low-dose oral contraceptive was effective in women with SMID and improve the quality of their lives (QOL).