--- title: Does the menstrual cycle affect asthma in teenage girls? | Niyora description: Asthma symptoms can worsen around ovulation and before menstruation in teenage girls, likely due to changes in estrogen and progesterone. Standard asthma medi url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/perimenstrual-asthma-in-adolescents-a-shared-condition-in-pediatric-and-2022/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the menstrual cycle affect asthma in teenage girls? Survey study, 2022 # Does the menstrual cycle affect asthma in teenage girls? Asthma symptoms can worsen around ovulation and before menstruation in teenage girls, likely due to changes in estrogen and progesterone. Standard asthma medications may not work well for this type of worsening. Early or limited evidence Adolescent females with asthma (review article). ## What they did This article reviews the current understanding of how menstrual cycle hormones affect asthma symptoms in adolescent girls, including how it happens and possible management strategies. ## What they found Asthma symptoms worsen during the second half of the menstrual cycle and during the first days of menstruation. This appears to be linked to drops in estrogen around ovulation and before the period, and to changes in progesterone during the second half of the cycle. Standard asthma treatments are not always effective for this kind of worsening. ## What it means for you Teenage girls with asthma may notice their symptoms follow their menstrual cycle. This is a review of existing knowledge, not new research findings, so more studies focusing specifically on teenagers are needed to understand and treat this better. Luteal phase when asthma worsens most ## About the study Original title Perimenstrual Asthma in Adolescents: A Shared Condition in Pediatric and Gynecological Endocrinology Authors Calcaterra V, Nappi RE, Farolfi A et al. Journal Children (Basel, Switzerland) Year 2022 Study design Survey study What was tested Discussion of potential management strategies including hormonal contraception and other hormonal treatments. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3390/children9020233](https://doi.org/10.3390/children9020233) Original abstract Asthma is a frequent medical condition in adolescence. The worsening of the most common symptoms perimenstrually is defined as perimenstrual asthma (PMA). The cause of PMA remains unclear, but a role for hormonal milieu is plausible. Data on PMA in adolescents are limited, and its management is not fully established. We aimed to discuss the PMA phenomenon in young females from pathophysiology to preventive strategies, focusing on the relationship with the hormonal pattern. The fluctuation of estrogens at ovulation and before menstruation and the progesterone secretion during the luteal phase and its subsequent withdrawal seem to be the culprits, because the deterioration of asthma is cyclical during the luteal phase and/or during the first days of the menstrual cycle. Conventional asthma therapies are not always effective for PMA. Preventive strategies may include innovative hormonal contraception. Even a possible beneficial effect of other hormonal treatments, including estrogens, progestogens, and androgens, as well as leukotriene receptor antagonists and explorative approach using microbial-directed therapy, is considered. The underlying mechanisms, through which sex-hormone fluctuations influence asthma symptoms, represent a challenge in the clinical management of such a distressing condition. Further studies focused on young females are mandatory to promote adolescent health. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[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 Randomised trial, 2025 Does mood, well-being, and sexual function change across the menstrual cycle? Cohort study, 2025 Are irregular menstrual cycles linked to lower thinking and memory skills in middle-aged women? Systematic review, 2020 How common is PMS among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia? Systematic review, 2017 Does Vitex agnus castus help treat premenstrual syndrome? Randomised trial, 2004 Which low-dose birth control pill has better cycle control and fewer side effects? Review, 2026 How should doctors diagnose and treat PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗