683 women were assessed in the present study. All study participants were subjected to an overall clinical examination before and after a 4-month regimen of a low-dose norgestimate-containing combination oral contraceptive (Cileste); in addition, their subjective well-being was investigated by an appropriate questionnaire. 63.3% of the study participants rated drug tolerance as 'very good' and 23.0% rated it as 'good' at evaluation in the 4th cycle. Between the first and second evaluation, we observed a significant improvement of the depressive mood and of skin and hair problems. Women with skin and hair problems often suffer from 'severe dysmenorrhea'. This difference was statistically significant only at the first evaluation (i.e. before the combined norgestimate regimen) and was not observed in the 4th cycle (i.e. during the Cileste regimen), while the incidence of menstrual disturbances was generally found to decrease.