Cohort study, 2008
How many women with asthma have symptoms that worsen around menstruation, and is it consistent across cycles?
In this small study, 57% had symptoms that worsened around menstruation, but only 25% had this happen in every cycle. Birth control pills did not appear to prevent premenstrual asthma.
What they did
Prospective cohort study of 28 premenopausal women with asthma. Women kept daily diaries for 2-4 menstrual cycles tracking symptoms, medication use, and peak flow (lung function). Researchers compared worsening during the luteal phase (last 14 days before menstruation) to the early follicular phase (first 7 days after).
What they found
Using a definition of increased symptoms and medication use, 16 of 28 women (57%) had premenstrual asthma. However, only 4 women (25%) had this pattern in every cycle. Women on oral contraceptives had premenstrual asthma at a similar rate (55%) as those not on contraceptives (59%). Women with premenstrual asthma were more likely to show a 20% drop in peak flow during the luteal phase.
What it means for you
More than half of women with asthma in this study had symptoms that worsened around menstruation, but the pattern was inconsistent cycle-to-cycle. Birth control did not prevent these symptoms. The study is limited by its very small size (28 women) and relatively short follow-up (2-4 cycles).
57%
had premenstrual asthma
25%
had premenstrual asthma in every cycle
2-4 cycles
length of follow-up
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual asthma: prevalence, cycle-to-cycle variability and relationship to oral contraceptive use and menstrual symptoms
- Authors
- Murphy VE, Gibson PG
- Journal
- The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 28
- What was tested
- None; observational comparison of oral contraceptive users versus non-users
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/02770900802207279
Topics
Related studies
Randomised trial, 2011
Does a 24/4 birth control pill help women with PMDD improve work, relationship, and social functioning?
Survey study, 2011
Is premenstrual syndrome related to major depression?
Cohort study, 2007
Does the combined oral contraceptive pill improve quality of life for women with PMS?
Randomised trial, 1993
Does oral contraceptive help PMS and affect sexual interest?
Survey study, 1990
Does the type of contraceptive pill affect premenstrual symptoms?
Survey study, 1988
Do women with PMS have higher rates of postpartum depression and birth control side effects?