Survey study, 2008
How do eating, sleep, and sexual activity change across the menstrual cycle?
Women ate more and slept worse during their luteal and premenstrual phases. Women who were sexually active had lower stress hormones than those who abstained.
What they did
Cross-sectional study tracking eating, exercise, sleep, and health across 180 menstrual cycles in 89 women from 2005 to 2007. Cycles were divided into 5 phases based on hormone surges. Women completed daily questionnaires and provided saliva samples.
What they found
Women ate more (p<.008) and slept worse (p=.02) during luteal and premenstrual phases. They were less likely to experience food cravings and did not satisfy cravings when ovulatory (p<.001). Sexually active women had lower cortisol and IgA levels than abstinent women (p=.02). Lesbian participants skipped breakfast more and exercised less than heterosexual women.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle affects eating and sleep in predictable ways. This was observational, so we cannot say whether these changes cause problems or what causes differences between groups.
89
women followed
180
menstrual cycles tracked
5
cycle phases
About the study
- Original title
- The menstrual cycle and sexual behavior: relationship to eating, exercise, sleep, and health patterns
- Authors
- Brown SG, Morrison LA, Calibuso MJ et al.
- Journal
- Women & health
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 45
- What was tested
- None, observational tracking
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/03630240802575179
Topics
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