---
title: Does alcohol affect you differently at different times in your menstrual cycle?
description: No clear difference. Women's bodies processed alcohol similarly at different cycle phases, and alcohol's effects on memory, balance, and attention were not si
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-effect-of-menstrual-cycle-on-blood-alcohol-levels-and-behavior-1986/
---

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- Does alcohol affect you differently at different times in your menstrual cycle?

Lab study, 1986

# Does alcohol affect you differently at different times in your menstrual cycle?

No clear difference. Women's bodies processed alcohol similarly at different cycle phases, and alcohol's effects on memory, balance, and attention were not significantly different by cycle phase.

 Early or limited evidence

10 women aged 21-24 with regular 28-31 day menstrual cycles

## What they did

10 women aged 21-24 with regular 28-31 day cycles participated in three test sessions scheduled during flow, midcycle, and premenstrual phases. In each session, they drank alcohol at 0.65 grams per kilogram of body weight and then completed tests of memory, balance, attention, and blood alcohol measurement. Tests were done at baseline, while absorbing alcohol, and while removing it.

## What they found

Peak blood alcohol levels reached 83±2 mg/dL. On one attention test (coding vigilance), women performed better during flow than during midcycle or premenstrual phases. However, there was no significant interaction between cycle phase and alcohol effects, meaning cycle phase did not change how alcohol affected their performance.

## What it means for you

Your menstrual cycle phase probably does not substantially change how alcohol affects your brain and body. The study was limited because it involved only 10 women, a single dose of alcohol, and testing in a controlled lab setting.

10

women

83±2 mg/dL

peak blood alcohol level

0.65 g/kg

alcohol dose

## About the study

Original title The effect of menstrual cycle on blood alcohol levels and behavior Authors Brick J, Nathan PE, Westrick E et al. Journal Journal of studies on alcohol Year 1986 Study design Lab study Participants 10 Read the paper [doi.org/10.15288/jsa.1986.47.472](https://doi.org/10.15288/jsa.1986.47.472)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

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