Survey study, 2010
Does the menstrual cycle affect how women who smoke crave cigarettes?
Yes. Women who smoke showed stronger cravings and physical reactions to smoking cues at certain times in their cycle, particularly in the mid-follicular phase.
What they did
37 women who smoked and were not seeking treatment for smoking were tested at four different points in their menstrual cycle. At each point, researchers showed them smoking cues and stressful images, then measured their cravings using questionnaires and their physical responses using skin conductance and heart rate.
What they found
Subjective cravings for smoking varied across the cycle and were higher in early follicular and mid-follicular phases than in mid-luteal and late-luteal phases. Heart rate response to stressful images varied across the cycle with the highest response during the mid-follicular phase. Skin conductance response to smoking cues also varied across the cycle, with highest reactivity during the mid-follicular phase.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle may affect how strongly women respond to smoking cues and stress. Women might experience stronger cravings at certain cycle phases, particularly mid-cycle. However, this was a small study of women not seeking smoking cessation treatment, so the results may not apply to all women or those trying to quit.
37
women smokers tested
4
different cycle phases tested
About the study
- Original title
- Menstrual cycle and cue reactivity in women smokers
- Authors
- Gray KM, DeSantis SM, Carpenter MJ et al.
- Journal
- Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
- Year
- 2010
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 37
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntp179
Topics
Related studies
Survey study, 2022
What diet, stress, and lifestyle factors are linked to PMS symptoms?
Randomised trial, 2017
Does the menstrual cycle affect cortisol levels or cigarette craving during smoking abstinence?
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?
Cohort study, 2021
Are low antioxidant vitamins or high oxidative stress linked to premenstrual syndrome?
Cohort study, 1999
What causes negative mood during menopause?