---
title: Does the menstrual cycle change the chemicals in our exhaled breath?
description: Yes. The pattern of volatile chemicals in exhaled breath changes throughout the menstrual cycle, with the most noticeable changes during the premenstrual peri
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-ovarian-cycle-may-influence-the-exhaled-volatile-organic-compound-profile-2018/
---

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- Does the menstrual cycle change the chemicals in our exhaled breath?

Lab study, 2018

# Does the menstrual cycle change the chemicals in our exhaled breath?

Yes. The pattern of volatile chemicals in exhaled breath changes throughout the menstrual cycle, with the most noticeable changes during the premenstrual period and menstruation.

 Moderate study design

21 healthy, never-smoking women with regular menstrual cycles, not taking medications

## What they did

Researchers measured volatile chemicals in the exhaled breath of 21 healthy women who were not smoking and not on any medications. They used a device called an electronic nose to measure breath at five points during the menstrual cycle: days 1-6, 7-12, 13-19, 20-25, and 26-31 (with day 1 being the first day of menstruation).

## What they found

The chemical profile of exhaled breath changed significantly over the cycle. The largest changes were during the premenstrual period and during menstruation, compared to other parts of the cycle.

## What it means for you

The menstrual cycle affects the chemicals released in your breath. This finding could matter for people who use breath analysis to detect other health conditions, because the cycle needs to be considered. The main limit is that it includes only 21 women, all healthy, not smoking, and not taking medications, so the findings may not apply to everyone.

21

healthy women studied

5

measurement points across the cycle

## About the study

Original title The ovarian cycle may influence the exhaled volatile organic compound profile analyzed by an electronic nose Authors Dragonieri S, Quaranta VN, Carratu P et al. Journal Journal of breath research Year 2018 Study design Lab study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1088/1752-7163/aa9eed](https://doi.org/10.1088/1752-7163/aa9eed)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Legal and forensic](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-legal-crime/)

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