---
title: Are women more likely to die at certain times in their menstrual cycle?
description: No. Deaths from all causes were spread evenly across all phases of the menstrual cycle, with no clear pattern.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/deaths-in-women-of-reproductive-age-and-relationship-with-menstrual-cycle-phase-1990/
---

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- Are women more likely to die at certain times in their menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 1990

# Are women more likely to die at certain times in their menstrual cycle?

No. Deaths from all causes were spread evenly across all phases of the menstrual cycle, with no clear pattern.

 Early or limited evidence

171 women of reproductive age who died and were autopsied

## What they did

Researchers examined 171 women who died and were autopsied between 1982 and 1989. They determined what phase of the menstrual cycle each woman was in by examining tissue samples. Deaths were grouped by cause: natural causes, accidental deaths, suicides, and homicides.

## What they found

Deaths from all causes combined, and within each cause group, showed no clear pattern by menstrual cycle phase. Deaths were distributed evenly across menstrual, proliferative, early secretory, and mid or late secretory phases.

## What it means for you

There is no evidence that menstrual cycle phase affects risk of death. The main limitation is that determining menstrual cycle phase after death using tissue examination is not precise.

171

women examined

4

menstrual cycle phases

1982-1989

years of data

## About the study

Original title Deaths in women of reproductive age and relationship with menstrual cycle phase. An autopsy study of cases reported to the coroner Authors Vanezis P Journal Forensic science international Year 1990 Study design Survey study Participants 257 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0379-0738(90)90284-6](https://doi.org/10.1016/0379-0738(90)90284-6)

## Topics

[Suicidality](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-suicidality/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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