Cohort study, 2015
Is suicide more common during certain menstrual phases?
No significant difference in suicide occurred during any particular menstrual phase. However, the evidence is weak because the study was small and included only women who died by suicide.
What they did
Prospective autopsy study of 30 women aged 15-30 years who died by suicide in 2013-14. Researchers examined uterine tissue from each woman using histopathology to determine the menstrual phase.
What they found
The observations revealed no significant increased incidence of suicide during the premenstrual, menstrual or paramenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle.
What it means for you
The study found no link between menstrual cycle and suicide risk. However, the evidence is very limited because the sample was small, included only women who died by suicide at one location, and did not include attempted suicides or other countries.
30
women in autopsy study
15-30
age range in years
About the study
- Original title
- MENSTRUAL PHASE OF WOMEN AND DEATH DUE TO DELIBERATE SELF HARM: AN AUTOPSY STUDY
- Authors
- Sujith Sreenivas C
- Journal
- Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Cohort study
- What was tested
- None. Autopsy study examining women who had died by suicide.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.14260/jemds/2015/110