--- title: Is there a link between menstrual cycle phase and fatal self-harm? description: Most women who died by suicide were in the premenstrual (late secretory) phase (41.7%), suggesting a possible connection. However, this is a small autopsy stu url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/role-of-phases-of-menstrual-cycle-in-fatal-self-directed-violence-2017/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is there a link between menstrual cycle phase and fatal self-harm? Survey study, 2017 # Is there a link between menstrual cycle phase and fatal self-harm? Most women who died by suicide were in the premenstrual (late secretory) phase (41.7%), suggesting a possible connection. However, this is a small autopsy study from one region in India with no comparison group, so cause and effect cannot be proven. Early or limited evidence 96 women aged 15-45 who died by suicide in Kerala, India, between June 2015 and June 2016. ## What they did Researchers autopsied 96 women aged 15-45 who had died by suicide in Kerala, India. They examined the uterine tissue under a microscope to determine which phase of the menstrual cycle each woman was in at the time of death. ## What they found 41.7% of the women (40 cases) were in the late secretory or premenstrual phase of their cycle. 30.2% were in the early proliferative phase, 13.5% in the late proliferative phase, and the smallest numbers were in the lytic and early secretory phases. ## What it means for you The study suggests that the premenstrual phase might be connected to fatal self-harm in women, which could matter for mental health support. However, with no comparison group of women who survived, it cannot prove that menstrual cycle phase caused the deaths. It is also specific to one region in India. 96 women autopsied 41.7% died in premenstrual phase 40 deaths in late secretory phase ## About the study Original title ROLE OF PHASES OF MENSTRUAL CYCLE IN FATAL SELF-DIRECTED VIOLENCE Authors V S Jidhin, V M Rajeev, Shilpa Babu S et al. Journal Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences Year 2017 Study design Survey study Participants 258,075 What was tested None (observational autopsy study) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.14260/jemds/2017/1019](https://doi.org/10.14260/jemds/2017/1019) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Suicidality](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-suicidality/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Legal and forensic](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-legal-crime/) 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 Review, 2025 How do stress hormone levels change during the menstrual cycle and how does this affect health? Systematic review, 2024 Does yoga help reduce PMS symptoms? Review, 2023 What treatments help mental and physical health problems linked to the menstrual cycle? Cohort study, 2014 Does childhood abuse increase the risk of PMS in adulthood? Case-control study, 2014 How common is severe period pain and what causes it? Survey study, 2026 Is PMS worse in medical students with higher stress? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗