--- title: Does drinking alcohol affect reproductive hormones or menstrual cycle regularity? description: Recent alcohol drinks raise reproductive hormone levels, but moderate drinking does not appear to disrupt menstrual cycle regularity in the short term. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/alcohol-intake-reproductive-hormones-and-menstrual-cycle-function-a-prospective-2015/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does drinking alcohol affect reproductive hormones or menstrual cycle regularity? Cohort study, 2015 # Does drinking alcohol affect reproductive hormones or menstrual cycle regularity? Recent alcohol drinks raise reproductive hormone levels, but moderate drinking does not appear to disrupt menstrual cycle regularity in the short term. Moderate study design 259 healthy premenopausal women in Western New York ## What they did Prospective cohort of 259 women followed 2 cycles (2005-2007). Blood samples collected up to 8 times per cycle and diet recalled 4 times per cycle. Examined whether daily alcohol affected hormone levels and whether average cycle-wide alcohol was linked to cycle problems. ## What they found For each drink consumed, total estradiol increased 5.26% (95% CI 1.27% to 9.41%), free estradiol 5.82% (95% CI 1.81% to 9.99%), total testosterone 1.56% (95% CI 0.23% to 2.90%), and luteinizing hormone 6.18% (95% CI 2.02% to 10.52%). Binge drinking was linked to 64% higher total estradiol. Average cycle alcohol was not significantly linked to cycle irregularities, missed ovulation, short luteal phase, long periods, or heavy bleeding. ## What it means for you Alcohol temporarily raises reproductive hormone levels, but does not appear to cause menstrual cycle problems in the short term. Main limit is that women were followed for only 2 cycles, so long-term effects remain unknown. 259 Number of women 5.26% Increase in total estradiol per alcoholic drink 64.35% Increase in total estradiol with binge drinking ## About the study Original title Alcohol intake, reproductive hormones, and menstrual cycle function: a prospective cohort study Authors Schliep KC, Zarek SM, Schisterman EF et al. Journal The American journal of clinical nutrition Year 2015 Study design Cohort study What was tested None; observational study measuring alcohol consumption and reproductive hormones Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.114.102160](https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.114.102160) ## Topics [Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2020 How do diet and lifestyle factors relate to PMS and PMDD in medical students? Cohort study, 2025 Are irregular menstrual cycles linked to lower thinking and memory skills in middle-aged women? Review, 2001 What causes PMS and PMDD, and how are they treated? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2026 How do pain, sleep quality, and appetite change across the menstrual cycle? Study, 2025 Does anger get worse before your period? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗