Study, 2018
Does the menstrual cycle affect women's voice and voice box?
Voice quality and voice box movement showed no clear differences during different cycle phases. However, blood vessels in the voice box appeared more swollen during the high progesterone premenstrual phase.
What they did
17 women were examined twice: once during the early menstrual cycle when progesterone was low, and again during the premenstrual phase when progesterone was high. Blood hormone levels were measured. Voice was assessed with voice handicap scores, sound analysis, video examination, and imaging.
What they found
Progesterone levels were 13 to 45 times higher during the premenstrual phase compared to the early menstrual phase. Voice handicap scores, voice movement, and sound analysis showed no significant differences between the two phases. Observers noted that blood vessels in the voice box appeared more swollen during the premenstrual phase. This was linked to progesterone levels.
What it means for you
Even though blood vessel swelling occurs in the voice box during the premenstrual phase, this does not seem to affect actual voice quality or how the voice box works. The study was very small (17 women) and did not include a control group, so findings need confirmation in larger studies.
17
women studied
13 to 45 times
progesterone increase from early cycle to premenstrual phase
About the study
- Original title
- Menstrual Cycle, Vocal Performance, and Laryngeal Vascular Appearance: An Observational Study on 17 Subjects
- Authors
- Shoffel-Havakuk H, Carmel-Neiderman NN, Halperin D et al.
- Journal
- Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation
- Year
- 2018
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 17
- What was tested
- None - comparison of natural cycle phases
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2017.05.001
Topics
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