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.
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
Topics
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