---
title: Does quitting caffeine cause different withdrawal symptoms in different menstrual cycle phases?
description: Caffeine withdrawal caused some symptoms in both phases, but the pattern was similar. Menstrual cycle phase did not change the severity of withdrawal symptoms
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/caffeine-abstinence-during-the-menstrual-cycle-an-evaluation-of-mood-somatic-2011/
---

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- Does quitting caffeine cause different withdrawal symptoms in different menstrual cycle phases?

Survey study, 2011

# Does quitting caffeine cause different withdrawal symptoms in different menstrual cycle phases?

Caffeine withdrawal caused some symptoms in both phases, but the pattern was similar. Menstrual cycle phase did not change the severity of withdrawal symptoms or thinking and motor performance.

 Early or limited evidence

48 women aged 18-25 who regularly consumed caffeine, without PMS history

## What they did

48 women aged 18-25 who regularly drank caffeine stopped caffeine for 24 hours twice: once during their follicular phase (around day 5 of cycle) and once during their luteal phase (about 4 days after ovulation). Researchers measured withdrawal symptoms and tested their thinking and motor skills.

## What they found

Withdrawal did cause symptom ratings on some days of abstinence compared to days without abstinence in both phases. However, the pattern of withdrawal symptoms and performance on thinking and motor tasks did not differ between follicular and luteal phases.

## What it means for you

Caffeine withdrawal appears similar throughout the menstrual cycle. The study excluded women with PMS, so results may not apply to them. The sample was small and young.

48

women studied

18-25

age range

24 hours

abstinence period

## About the study

Original title Caffeine Abstinence During The Menstrual Cycle:An Evaluation Of Mood, Somatic, Cognitive, And Psychomotor Effects Of Withdrawal Authors Hoa T. Vo Journal The Internet Journal of Pharmacology Year 2011 Study design Survey study What was tested 24 hours of caffeine abstinence during both follicular and luteal phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.5580/60c](https://doi.org/10.5580/60c)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)

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