---
title: Does suicide risk change across the menstrual cycle? | Niyora
description: Suicide risk may increase at certain cycle points, especially in women with PMDD. However, no studies have actually tracked suicidal thoughts or attempts thro
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/suicide-risk-and-the-menstrual-cycle-a-review-of-candidate-rdoc-mechanisms-2018/
---

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- Does suicide risk change across the menstrual cycle?

Cohort study, 2018

# Does suicide risk change across the menstrual cycle?

Suicide risk may increase at certain cycle points, especially in women with PMDD. However, no studies have actually tracked suicidal thoughts or attempts throughout the cycle to confirm this.

 Early or limited evidence

Review of research on women with PMDD and those with premenstrual psychiatric symptoms

## What they did

Review of research on menstrual cycle and suicide risk. The authors examined possible mechanisms using the RDoC framework to identify how hormones might affect brain systems linked to suicide.

## What they found

The menstrual cycle affects most brain and behavioral systems linked to suicide risk, particularly in hormone-sensitive women with PMDD or premenstrual worsening of psychiatric disorders. Despite this, no published studies have examined suicidal thoughts, plans, or behavior across the menstrual cycle.

## What it means for you

This is an important gap in research. While theory suggests the cycle could affect suicide risk, we lack direct evidence. We need studies that follow women throughout their cycles to understand whether suicide risk actually increases at certain times.

## About the study

Original title Suicide Risk and the Menstrual Cycle: a Review of Candidate RDoC Mechanisms Authors Owens SA, Eisenlohr-Moul T Journal Current psychiatry reports Year 2018 Study design Cohort study What was tested None - review article Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0962-3](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0962-3)

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Reproductive hormone sensitivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-hormone-sensitivity/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Suicidality](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-suicidality/)

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## Related studies

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Could early stress or past trauma make PMDD symptoms worse later in the cycle?

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