--- title: Does marijuana use change across the menstrual cycle? | Niyora description: No. In women without severe PMS, marijuana use did not vary across the menstrual cycle, even though physical symptoms like pain and water retention worsened b url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/marihuana-use-across-the-menstrual-cycle-1986/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does marijuana use change across the menstrual cycle? Survey study, 1986 # Does marijuana use change across the menstrual cycle? No. In women without severe PMS, marijuana use did not vary across the menstrual cycle, even though physical symptoms like pain and water retention worsened before and during menstruation. Early or limited evidence 30 women without severe premenstrual symptoms. ## What they did Thirty women completed daily diaries for three consecutive menstrual cycles. They recorded how much marijuana they smoked each day and reported their menstrual symptoms using a standard symptom questionnaire. ## What they found Women returned 99.1 percent of their diaries. They smoked an average of 1.4 (plus or minus 2.0) marijuana cigarettes per day, ranging from 0.2 to 7.3 cigarettes daily. There was no significant relationship between daily marijuana use and which phase of the cycle they were in. Psychological symptoms like negative mood and difficulty concentrating did not vary with cycle phase. Physical symptoms like pain, autonomic reactions, and water retention were significantly increased during the premenstrual and menstrual phases, but overall symptom scores during these phases were very low. ## What it means for you Among women without severe PMS, marijuana use patterns don't change with the menstrual cycle. This finding may not apply to women with severe PMS. The study is small and specific to one group of women. 30 women who tracked use and symptoms 1.4 (±2.0) avg marijuana cigarettes/day 99.1% diary return rate ## About the study Original title Marihuana use across the menstrual cycle Authors Griffin ML, Mendelson JH, Mello NK et al. Journal Drug and alcohol dependence Year 1986 Study design Survey study What was tested None. This was an observational study. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0376-8716(86)90053-0](https://doi.org/10.1016/0376-8716(86)90053-0) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[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 Survey study, 2025 Does PMDD or PMS affect quality of life? Systematic review, 2021 Does substance use change across the menstrual cycle, especially in women with PMS or PMDD? Cohort study, 2026 Does cannabis use vary across the menstrual cycle in people with premenstrual disorders? Survey study, 2021 Do women with PMDD use more cannabis premenstrually to cope with mood symptoms? Survey study, 2001 How common is premenstrual dysphoric disorder and how is it related to other psychiatric conditions? Survey study, 1994 Do women with PMDD use more cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs at certain times in their cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗