Cohort study, 2026
How do menstrual cycle hormones affect suicide risk in women?
A review suggests hormone changes during the menstrual cycle, especially in the luteal phase, may affect brain chemistry and increase suicide risk in vulnerable women. The exact mechanisms are not fully understood.
What they did
This is a literature review examining how ovarian hormone changes during the menstrual cycle affect suicide risk. The authors reviewed evidence on six biological systems affected by hormones (serotonergic, GABAergic, dopaminergic, neurotrophic, lipid, and DHEA systems) and their links to suicide.
What they found
Women have higher suicidal thoughts and attempts than men, especially during hormone transitions like the menstrual cycle, puberty, and pregnancy. Suicidal risk is higher in the luteal and perimenstrual phases. In hormone-sensitive women, normal hormone fluctuations in estradiol, progesterone, and allopregnanolone may disrupt brain chemistry affecting mood, thinking, and behavior.
What it means for you
Menstrual cycle phase should be considered when assessing suicide risk in women. The main limitation is that exact mechanisms are not proven and most evidence is not specific to individual women. More targeted research is needed to identify who is at highest risk and how to prevent suicide.
6
biological systems reviewed
Luteal phase
highest suicide risk
3
key hormones studied
About the study
- Original title
- Molecular Mechanisms of Menstrual Cycle-Related Suicide Risk: A Selective Review of Promising Candidate Systems
- Authors
- Ross A, Patterson AM, Eisenlohr-Moul TA
- Journal
- Biological psychiatry
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Cohort study
- What was tested
- None - literature review.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.12.005
Topics
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