---
title: Does menstrual cycle phase affect how often women get infection symptoms?
description: Women reported more infection symptoms during menstruation and the week before, compared to the middle of their cycle. However, this appears linked more to st
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/relationships-between-self-reported-symptoms-of-infection-menstrual-cycle-1993/
---

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- Does menstrual cycle phase affect how often women get infection symptoms?

Survey study, 1993

# Does menstrual cycle phase affect how often women get infection symptoms?

Women reported more infection symptoms during menstruation and the week before, compared to the middle of their cycle. However, this appears linked more to stress and menstrual distress than to the cycle phase itself.

 Early or limited evidence

65 women with regular menstrual cycles not taking birth control pills

## What they did

65 women with regular cycles not taking birth control completed three questionnaires three times during their cycle (during menstruation, midcycle, and the week before their period). The questionnaires measured menstrual distress, stress, and symptoms of respiratory, skin, stomach, and urinary tract infections.

## What they found

Infection symptoms clustered significantly around menstruation and the perimenstrual period compared to midcycle. Scores on stress and menstrual distress were significantly related to infection symptom frequency. When menstrual distress was accounted for, cycle phase effects disappeared; when cycle phase was accounted for, stress and menstrual distress significantly influenced symptom scores.

## What it means for you

Women may experience more infection symptoms during their period and the week before, but this appears linked more to stress and distress than to the cycle itself. The main limitation is the small convenience sample studied only once at each cycle phase rather than tracked daily.

65

women studied

3

cycle phases tested

3

questionnaires completed per phase

## About the study

Original title Relationships between self-reported symptoms of infection, menstrual-cycle-related distress, and cycle phase Authors Groër M, Carr J, Younger MS Journal Behavioral medicine (Washington, D.C.) Year 1993 Study design Survey study What was tested None (observational study) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/08964289.1993.9937560](https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.1993.9937560)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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