---
title: Do suicide attempts happen more often at certain times of the menstrual cycle?
description: In women not using birth control, suicide attempts clustered in the first week of the menstrual cycle (42%) and after the fourth week (12%), when hormone leve
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/suicide-attempts-in-hypo-oestrogenic-phases-of-the-menstrual-cycle-1986/
---

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- Do suicide attempts happen more often at certain times of the menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 1986

# Do suicide attempts happen more often at certain times of the menstrual cycle?

In women not using birth control, suicide attempts clustered in the first week of the menstrual cycle (42%) and after the fourth week (12%), when hormone levels are low. This pattern did not appear in women using birth control.

 Early or limited evidence

108 young women who had attempted suicide (73 using contraception, 35 not using it)

## What they did

Cross-sectional study. 108 young women who had attempted suicide were interviewed within 24 hours of the attempt. Researchers determined which phase of the menstrual cycle they were in and whether they used oral contraception.

## What they found

Among 35 women not using birth control, suicide attempts were concentrated in the first week of the menstrual cycle (42%) and after the fourth week (12%). Among 73 women using oral contraception, suicide attempts did not vary with menstrual cycle phase. The researchers suggest that low oestradiol levels may increase the risk of depression and suicide attempts.

## What it means for you

Hormone levels in the menstrual cycle may affect suicide risk in women not using birth control, but this finding is from a small group of women who attempted suicide and has no comparison group. The finding needs to be tested more carefully before drawing conclusions.

108

young women who had attempted suicide

42%

attempts in first week (non-birth control users)

12%

attempts after fourth week (non-birth control users)

## About the study

Original title Suicide attempts in hypo-oestrogenic phases of the menstrual cycle Authors Fourestié V, de Lignières B, Roudot-Thoraval F et al. Journal Lancet (London, England) Year 1986 Study design Survey study Participants 73 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(86)92005-2](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(86)92005-2)

## Topics

[Suicidality](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-suicidality/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)

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Survey study, 2005

Are suicidal attempts more likely during certain phases of the menstrual cycle?

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Study, 1998

Do women attempt suicide more often at certain times in their menstrual cycle?

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