Survey study, 2015
Does menstrual cycle phase affect how nicotine affects women?
Yes, menstrual cycle phase affects how smoking activates stress hormones and subjective feelings. Women in the high progesterone luteal phase showed reduced emotional and hormonal responses to smoking compared to other phases.
What they did
Study of 17 nicotine-dependent women examined during different phases of their menstrual cycle. Women smoked while researchers measured stress hormones in blood and asked about subjective feelings.
What they found
Smoking activated stress hormones including ACTH, cortisol, and DHEA during both follicular and luteal phases and affected feelings such as increased rush and decreased craving. Women in the high progesterone luteal phase showed reduced hormone and subjective responses.
What it means for you
Higher progesterone in the later menstrual cycle phase may reduce the addictive effects of nicotine by making smoking feel less rewarding and more unpleasant. This is a pilot study with a small group, so results need confirmation in larger studies.
17
nicotine-dependent women studied
2
menstrual cycle phases examined
About the study
- Original title
- The effects of smoked nicotine on measures of subjective states and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones in women during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Goletiani NV, Siegel AJ, Lukas SE et al.
- Journal
- Journal of addiction medicine
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- Smoking a cigarette while menstrual cycle phase and hormone levels were measured
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/adm.0000000000000117
Topics
Related studies
Randomised trial, 2017
Does the menstrual cycle affect cortisol levels or cigarette craving during smoking abstinence?
Study, 2015
Does how women smokers react to stress change during their menstrual cycle?
Survey study, 2024
Are menstrual cycle symptoms related to sleep problems and mental health in female athletes?
Survey study, 2022
What diet, stress, and lifestyle factors are linked to PMS symptoms?
Survey study, 2021
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect women's menstrual cycles and symptoms?
Study, 2020
Does drinking and craving change across the menstrual cycle in women treated for alcohol use disorder?