---
title: Does how women smokers react to stress change during their menstrual cycle?
description: Yes. Women smokers react to stress differently depending on where they are in their cycle.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-phase-effects-in-the-gender-dimorphic-stress-cue-reactivity-of-2015/
---

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- Does how women smokers react to stress change during their menstrual cycle?

Study, 2015

# Does how women smokers react to stress change during their menstrual cycle?

Yes. Women smokers react to stress differently depending on where they are in their cycle.

 Early or limited evidence

22 female smokers in follicular phase, 15 female smokers in luteal phase, 53 male smokers

## What they did

Researchers studied female smokers in different cycle phases and compared them to male smokers. Home testing kits determined whether women were in the follicular phase (n = 22) or luteal phase (n = 15). Male smokers (n = 53) were also tested. All participants listened to their own personalized stress script and a relaxed script while researchers measured craving, stress, and emotional reactions.

## What they found

Women in the luteal phase reported more craving than men. Women in the follicular phase reported more stress and arousal than men and found stress cues more emotionally difficult. There were no differences between women in the follicular versus luteal phases on any measures tested.

## What it means for you

How women smokers react to stress may depend on their cycle phase. The sample was small and these findings are preliminary.

22

Women smokers in follicular phase

15

Women smokers in luteal phase

53

Male smokers

## About the study

Original title Menstrual cycle phase effects in the gender dimorphic stress cue reactivity of smokers Authors Saladin ME, Wray JM, Carpenter MJ et al. Journal Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Year 2015 Study design Study Participants 53 What was tested Stress script and relaxation script during laboratory testing Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu203](https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu203)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Mood swings and emotion regulation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-emotional-regulation/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

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