---
title: Does alcohol use change across the menstrual cycle? | Niyora
description: Among 30 women who use marijuana, alcohol drinking frequency did not change with the menstrual cycle phase. Women who reported more premenstrual symptoms tend
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/alcohol-use-across-the-menstrual-cycle-among-marihuana-users-1987/
---

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- Does alcohol use change across the menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 1987

# Does alcohol use change across the menstrual cycle?

Among 30 women who use marijuana, alcohol drinking frequency did not change with the menstrual cycle phase. Women who reported more premenstrual symptoms tended to drink slightly more, but the timing of the cycle did not predict drinking.

 Early or limited evidence

30 women who use marijuana

## What they did

30 women kept daily diaries for three menstrual cycles, recording alcohol, marijuana and tobacco use, and daily premenstrual symptoms.

## What they found

Alcohol use frequency did not change across the menstrual cycle. Women drank an average of 1.2 alcoholic drinks per day. Seven of eight symptom factors showed weak relationships with alcohol use: women reporting more premenstrual symptoms tended to drink slightly more. In 11 women who smoked at least half a pack of tobacco daily, tobacco and alcohol use were linked, but this relationship was not found in 10 occasional smokers.

## What it means for you

For women who are social drinkers without severe premenstrual distress, the time of the menstrual cycle does not predict whether they will drink alcohol. A weak link between experiencing more premenstrual symptoms and drinking slightly more was found, but this may not apply to women with severe symptoms. The study only included women who use marijuana, so results may not apply to all women.

30

women followed

3

menstrual cycles tracked

1.2

average alcoholic drinks per day

## About the study

Original title Alcohol use across the menstrual cycle among marihuana users Authors Griffin ML, Mello NK, Mendelson JH et al. Journal Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.) Year 1987 Study design Survey study Participants 11 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0741-8329(87)90085-1](https://doi.org/10.1016/0741-8329(87)90085-1)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

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