--- title: How do eating behavior and mood change during the menstrual cycle in women using birth control? description: Women not using birth control showed more emotional and compulsive eating in the early cycle phase, while women using birth control pills showed less change. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/features-of-eating-behavior-and-psycho-emotional-state-in-girls-at-different-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How do eating behavior and mood change during the menstrual cycle in women using birth control? Interview study, 2026 # How do eating behavior and mood change during the menstrual cycle in women using birth control? Women not using birth control showed more emotional and compulsive eating in the early cycle phase, while women using birth control pills showed less change. This is a small study of 84 university students. Early or limited evidence 84 female university students in Russia (67 not using birth control, 17 using single-phase birth control pills) ## What they did Study of 84 female university students in Russia (67 not using birth control, 17 using single-phase birth control pills). Participants were measured twice: during days 1-3 (early cycle) and mid-cycle. Measurements included diet from food diaries, eating behavior using the DEBQ questionnaire, anxiety and depression using HADS scale, and stress using the PSM-25 scale. ## What they found In women not using birth control, emotional eating, external eating, and compulsive eating were significantly higher during the early cycle phase compared to late cycle. In women using birth control pills, only external eating increased in the early cycle phase. The difference between cycle phases was smaller in birth control users. ## What it means for you Eating behavior and emotional responses vary during the menstrual cycle, but birth control pills may reduce some of these changes. The study is limited to university students at one medical school in Russia with a very small birth control group (only 17). 84 students studied 67 not using birth control 17 using birth control pills ## About the study Original title FEATURES OF EATING BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STATE IN GIRLS AT DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE Authors Boris B. Pinkhasov, F.М. Pashaeva, K.D. Utebaeva et al. Journal Sibirskij medicinskij vestnik Year 2026 Study design Interview study Participants 84 What was tested Comparison between women using and not using hormonal birth control Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.31549/2541-8289-2026-10-2-72-81](https://doi.org/10.31549/2541-8289-2026-10-2-72-81) ## 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/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Eating disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-eating-disorders/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) 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? Case-control study, 2007 Does progesterone activate the part of the brain that handles fear and emotion? Survey study, 2026 How common is PMDD in Russian medical students, and what are its symptoms? Study, 2022 What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of PMS and PMDD? Survey study, 2012 Do women with PMS eat more food before their period? Survey study, 2026 What dietary, lifestyle, and psychological factors are associated with PMS in young women? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗