--- title: Does the menstrual cycle affect cortisol levels or cigarette craving during smoking abstinence? description: The menstrual cycle did not affect cortisol levels during early smoking abstinence. However, cigarette craving behaved differently in different phases. It inc url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/differences-in-mood-and-cortisol-by-menstrual-phase-during-acute-smoking-2017/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the menstrual cycle affect cortisol levels or cigarette craving during smoking abstinence? Randomised trial, 2017 # Does the menstrual cycle affect cortisol levels or cigarette craving during smoking abstinence? The menstrual cycle did not affect cortisol levels during early smoking abstinence. However, cigarette craving behaved differently in different phases. It increased early in the follicular phase but decreased during the luteal phase. Moderate study design 125 smokers, average age 29.4 years, smoking about 12.6 cigarettes per day ## What they did Secondary analysis of a controlled crossover trial. 125 smokers were tested during both the follicular and luteal phases of their menstrual cycle. In each phase, they smoked normally for 2 days, then abstained from smoking for 4 days. Saliva cortisol and mood were measured multiple times. ## What they found Cortisol decreased when smoking stopped, but this happened the same way in both menstrual phases. Cigarette craving increased in the first day of abstinence during the follicular phase but decreased during the luteal phase. ## What it means for you The menstrual cycle does not change how cortisol responds to smoking abstinence in the first few days. However, the cycle may affect cigarette craving differently. Women might find quitting harder early in their cycle (follicular phase) and easier in the later phase (luteal phase). The study only examined the first few days of abstinence. 125 smokers studied 29.4 ± 0.6 average age in years 12.6 ± 0.5 average cigarettes per day ## About the study Original title Differences in mood and cortisol by menstrual phase during acute smoking abstinence: A within-subject comparison Authors Carlson SC, Allen AM, Allen SS et al. Journal Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology Year 2017 Study design Randomised trial Participants 125 What was tested 4 days of smoking abstinence following 2 days of normal smoking Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1037/pha0000142](https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000142) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/) 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 Study, 2015 Does how women smokers react to stress change during their menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2015 Does menstrual cycle phase affect how nicotine affects women? Survey study, 2024 Are menstrual cycle symptoms related to sleep problems and mental health in female athletes? Survey study, 2022 What diet, stress, and lifestyle factors are linked to PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2021 How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect women's menstrual cycles and symptoms? Study, 2020 Does drinking and craving change across the menstrual cycle in women treated for alcohol use disorder? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗