Interview study, 2026

How do eating behavior and mood change during the menstrual cycle in women using birth control?

Women not using birth control showed more emotional and compulsive eating in the early cycle phase, while women using birth control pills showed less change. This is a small study of 84 university students.

Early or limited evidence 84 female university students in Russia (67 not using birth control, 17 using single-phase birth control pills)

What they did

Study of 84 female university students in Russia (67 not using birth control, 17 using single-phase birth control pills). Participants were measured twice: during days 1-3 (early cycle) and mid-cycle. Measurements included diet from food diaries, eating behavior using the DEBQ questionnaire, anxiety and depression using HADS scale, and stress using the PSM-25 scale.

What they found

In women not using birth control, emotional eating, external eating, and compulsive eating were significantly higher during the early cycle phase compared to late cycle. In women using birth control pills, only external eating increased in the early cycle phase. The difference between cycle phases was smaller in birth control users.

What it means for you

Eating behavior and emotional responses vary during the menstrual cycle, but birth control pills may reduce some of these changes. The study is limited to university students at one medical school in Russia with a very small birth control group (only 17).

students studied

not using birth control

using birth control pills

About the study

Original title: FEATURES OF EATING BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STATE IN GIRLS AT DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Authors: Boris B. Pinkhasov, F.М. Pashaeva, K.D. Utebaeva et al.
Journal: Sibirskij medicinskij vestnik
Year: 2026
Study design: Interview study
Participants: 84
What was tested: Comparison between women using and not using hormonal birth control
Open access: Yes
Read the paper: doi.org/10.31549/2541-8289-2026-10-2-72-81

Topics

Menstrual cycle and mood Low mood and depression Anxiety and tension Appetite and food cravings Oral contraceptives and drospirenone Diet and nutrition Major depressive disorder Eating disorders Students and academic performance Adolescents and young people

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