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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 …