--- title: Does the menstrual cycle affect how much people smoke or how hard it is to quit? description: Not strongly. Smoking was slightly higher mid-cycle, and withdrawal was worse in women with depression, but the cycle phase did not strongly predict smoking b url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effects-of-menstrual-phase-and-smoking-abstinence-in-smokers-with-and-without-a-2000/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the menstrual cycle affect how much people smoke or how hard it is to quit? Survey study, 2000 # Does the menstrual cycle affect how much people smoke or how hard it is to quit? Not strongly. Smoking was slightly higher mid-cycle, and withdrawal was worse in women with depression, but the cycle phase did not strongly predict smoking behavior. Early or limited evidence 14 women smokers, some with and some without a history of major depression ## What they did They followed 14 women smokers (some with depression, some without) for two menstrual cycles. In the first cycle, women smoked normally while researchers tracked cigarettes per day and cravings across five phases. In the second cycle, women tried to quit for 3 consecutive days during two different phases. ## What they found When smoking freely, women smoked slightly more mid-cycle rather than before their period. When quitting, women with a history of depression had much worse withdrawal symptoms. The menstrual cycle phase itself did not strongly explain smoking behavior or withdrawal. ## What it means for you The menstrual cycle may not be a major factor in smoking behavior or quitting. This study is very small with only 14 women and tracked only one cycle, so the findings may not apply to all women who smoke. 14 Number of women 3 days Duration of abstinence tested 5 phases Phases of menstrual cycle studied ## About the study Original title Effects of menstrual phase and smoking abstinence in smokers with and without a history of major depressive disorder Authors Pomerleau CS, Mehringer AM, Marks JL et al. Journal Addictive behaviors Year 2000 Study design Survey study What was tested Smoking abstinence for 3 consecutive days during two menstrual cycle phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0306-4603(99)00075-1](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0306-4603(99)00075-1) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[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, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Study, 2020 Does drinking and craving change across the menstrual cycle in women treated for alcohol use disorder? Non-randomised trial, 2008 Do mood, memory, and food cravings worsen during the luteal phase in women with PMDD? Cohort study, 1999 How common are depression symptoms in women in their late 30s and early 40s, and what predicts them? Interview study, 2026 How do eating behavior and mood change during the menstrual cycle in women using birth control? Study, 2022 What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of PMS and PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗