---
title: Does asthma get worse before menstruation because of airway inflammation?
description: Yes. Women with asthma that worsens before their period have more inflammation in their airways at that time. The differences were clear.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/airway-inflammation-in-premenstrual-asthma-2002/
---

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- Does asthma get worse before menstruation because of airway inflammation?

Study, 2002

# Does asthma get worse before menstruation because of airway inflammation?

Yes. Women with asthma that worsens before their period have more inflammation in their airways at that time. The differences were clear.

 Early or limited evidence

11 women aged 17 to 40 who reported asthma symptoms that worsened before menstruation

## What they did

11 women with asthma symptoms that worsened before their period were studied. During one menstrual cycle, they recorded their peak breathing flow, symptoms, and inhaler use daily. They also had breathing tests and inflammation tests measured twice: once on day 7 of their cycle and again on day 26, about 3 days before the next period.

## What they found

Before menstruation, inflammation markers in the airways increased. A marker called FENO was 29.25 ppb before menstruation and 9.16 ppb after. Daytime symptom scores were higher before menstruation. White blood cells called eosinophils in sputum samples were 6.63 percent before menstruation and 4.09 percent after.

## What it means for you

Asthma that gets worse before a period involves real inflammation in the airways, not just the airways getting narrower. The study was small (11 women), so larger studies are needed to confirm whether this applies to other women with this type of asthma.

11

Women studied

29.25 ppb

FENO level before menstruation

6.63%

Eosinophils before menstruation

## About the study

Original title Airway inflammation in premenstrual asthma Authors Oguzulgen IK, Turktas H, Erbas D Journal The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma Year 2002 Study design Study What was tested None. Measurements compared at two points in the menstrual cycle. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1081/jas-120004921](https://doi.org/10.1081/jas-120004921)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)

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