---
title: Does the menstrual cycle affect how alcohol impacts flying ability?
description: No clear difference. Women pilots' flight performance after drinking was the same during their menstrual phase and luteal phase, even though hormone levels we
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/influence-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-flight-simulator-performance-after-alcohol-2001/
---

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- Does the menstrual cycle affect how alcohol impacts flying ability?

Survey study, 2001

# Does the menstrual cycle affect how alcohol impacts flying ability?

No clear difference. Women pilots' flight performance after drinking was the same during their menstrual phase and luteal phase, even though hormone levels were much higher in the luteal phase.

 Early or limited evidence

24 white female pilots

## What they did

24 white female pilots were tested twice: once during their menstrual phase and once during their luteal phase. On each test day they drank alcohol and performed flight simulator tests immediately after drinking and again 8 hours later.

## What they found

Estradiol and progesterone levels were much higher during the luteal phase. However, flight performance after drinking was similar in both phases. There was no connection between hormone levels and how well pilots flew after drinking.

## What it means for you

The menstrual cycle phase doesn't appear to change how alcohol affects complex task performance, which is important for women pilots and others. This is a real-world task study with a decent sample size.

24

female pilots studied

0.67 g/kg

amount of alcohol given

8 hours

time of second flight test after drinking

## About the study

Original title Influence of the menstrual cycle on flight simulator performance after alcohol ingestion Authors Mumenthaler MS, O'Hara R, Taylor JL et al. Journal Journal of studies on alcohol Year 2001 Study design Survey study Participants 24 What was tested Alcohol (0.67 g/kg) Read the paper [doi.org/10.15288/jsa.2001.62.422](https://doi.org/10.15288/jsa.2001.62.422)

## Topics

[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

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