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.
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
Topics
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