Randomised trial, 2000
Does how much women smoke change at different times of their menstrual cycle?
Yes. Women smoked more cigarettes during the late luteal phase (days before menstruation), but mood and withdrawal symptoms were similar across cycle phases.
What they did
Female smokers aged 20-39 were followed for two menstrual cycles. Twice per cycle, they came to the research center. Half the time they smoked as much as they wanted. Half the time they abstained for 24 hours. Researchers measured smoking rate, mood, withdrawal symptoms, and carbon monoxide levels during the mid-to-late follicular phase and late luteal phase.
What they found
Women smoked more cigarettes per day during the late luteal phase. Carbon monoxide boost was greater during the follicular phase. Withdrawal symptoms and craving increased after 24-hour abstinence. No differences were found in mood state, nicotine boost, or menstrual symptoms by cycle phase.
What it means for you
If you're a smoker, you may smoke more in the days before your period, but your withdrawal symptoms and mood may not differ much by cycle phase. The study measured only two time points per cycle.
20-39 years
age range
2 cycles
study duration
late luteal
more cigarettes smoked
About the study
- Original title
- Smoking behavior, dysphoric states and the menstrual cycle: results from single smoking sessions and the natural environment
- Authors
- Snively TA, Ahijevych KL, Bernhard LA et al.
- Journal
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Year
- 2000
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Smoking freely or after 24-hour abstinence during two cycle phases
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0306-4530(00)00018-4
Topics
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