--- title: Does the menstrual cycle affect women's voice and voice box? | Niyora description: Voice quality and voice box movement showed no clear differences during different cycle phases. However, blood vessels in the voice box appeared more swollen url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-vocal-performance-and-laryngeal-vascular-appearance-an-2018/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the menstrual cycle affect women's voice and voice box? Study, 2018 # Does the menstrual cycle affect women's voice and voice box? Voice quality and voice box movement showed no clear differences during different cycle phases. However, blood vessels in the voice box appeared more swollen during the high progesterone premenstrual phase. Early or limited evidence 17 healthy women aged 23 to 43 (mean age 31.7 years) not using hormonal contraception ## What they did 17 women were examined twice: once during the early menstrual cycle when progesterone was low, and again during the premenstrual phase when progesterone was high. Blood hormone levels were measured. Voice was assessed with voice handicap scores, sound analysis, video examination, and imaging. ## What they found Progesterone levels were 13 to 45 times higher during the premenstrual phase compared to the early menstrual phase. Voice handicap scores, voice movement, and sound analysis showed no significant differences between the two phases. Observers noted that blood vessels in the voice box appeared more swollen during the premenstrual phase. This was linked to progesterone levels. ## What it means for you Even though blood vessel swelling occurs in the voice box during the premenstrual phase, this does not seem to affect actual voice quality or how the voice box works. The study was very small (17 women) and did not include a control group, so findings need confirmation in larger studies. 17 women studied 13 to 45 times progesterone increase from early cycle to premenstrual phase ## About the study Original title Menstrual Cycle, Vocal Performance, and Laryngeal Vascular Appearance: An Observational Study on 17 Subjects Authors Shoffel-Havakuk H, Carmel-Neiderman NN, Halperin D et al. Journal Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation Year 2018 Study design Study Participants 17 What was tested None - comparison of natural cycle phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2017.05.001](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2017.05.001) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Randomised trial, 2024 Does estetrol/drospirenone birth control improve PMS symptoms? Systematic review, 2024 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? Review, 2024 What are the most effective treatments for PMDD? Systematic review, 2023 What hormonal treatments have been tested for PMDD, menstrual migraine, and catamenial epilepsy? Systematic review, 2023 How common are menstrual cycle problems and PMS or PMDD in female athletes? Guideline, 2023 How are GnRH agonists used to treat PMDD that doesn't respond to standard medications? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗