---
title: Does light therapy for seasonal depression affect when menstruation starts?
description: Menstruation started on average 1.2 days earlier after light therapy for seasonal depression. This was noted as a minor side effect in only 2 people.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/shortening-of-the-menstrual-cycle-following-light-therapy-in-seasonal-affective-2007/
---

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- Does light therapy for seasonal depression affect when menstruation starts?

Survey study, 2007

# Does light therapy for seasonal depression affect when menstruation starts?

Menstruation started on average 1.2 days earlier after light therapy for seasonal depression. This was noted as a minor side effect in only 2 people.

 Early or limited evidence

38 people with seasonal affective disorder (winter depression)

## What they did

Researchers tracked when menstruation started in 38 people with seasonal depression before and after they received light therapy.

## What they found

Following light therapy, menstruation started on average 1.2 days earlier. In 2 people this was noted as a minor side effect. There was no link between how much menstruation shifted and how much depression improved.

## What it means for you

Light therapy may affect when menstruation starts through effects on the brain's hormone control system. However, this is a small study and a 1.2 day shift may not be practically important.

38

people with seasonal depression studied

1.2

days earlier menstruation started on average

2

people noted it as a minor side effect

## About the study

Original title Shortening of the menstrual cycle following light therapy in seasonal affective disorder Authors Danilenko KV Journal Psychiatry research Year 2007 Study design Survey study What was tested Light therapy for seasonal depression Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2006.12.016](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2006.12.016)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Light therapy and sleep deprivation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-light-therapy/)

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.

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Study, 2010

Are women with PMDD more sensitive to how light affects sleep hormones?

Non-randomised trial, 1991

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