---
title: Do bulimia symptoms change across menstrual cycle phases? | Niyora
description: Yes, bulimia symptoms worsen in mid-luteal and premenstrual phases compared to other cycle phases. The study is very small with only 8 women, so results need
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/symptom-fluctuation-in-bulimia-nervosa-relation-to-menstrual-cycle-phase-and-2003/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Do bulimia symptoms change across menstrual cycle phases?

Case-control study, 2003

# Do bulimia symptoms change across menstrual cycle phases?

Yes, bulimia symptoms worsen in mid-luteal and premenstrual phases compared to other cycle phases. The study is very small with only 8 women, so results need confirmation.

 Early or limited evidence

8 women with bulimia nervosa in a case-control study

## What they did

Eight women with bulimia nervosa and eight control women collected daily saliva samples for five consecutive weeks (one full menstrual cycle) and recorded mood and binge-purge episodes.

## What they found

Bulimia symptoms were significantly worse in mid-luteal and premenstrual phases than in follicular and ovulatory phases. Cortisol fluctuation was closely correlated with symptom fluctuation (r=0.64, p=0.001).

## What it means for you

The menstrual cycle affects bulimia symptom severity, linked to cortisol changes. The main limitation is the very small sample of only 8 women with bulimia, so broader applicability is unclear.

8

women with bulimia

5 weeks

study duration

r=0.64

cortisol-symptom correlation

## About the study

Original title Symptom fluctuation in bulimia nervosa: relation to menstrual-cycle phase and cortisol levels Authors Lester NA, Keel PK, Lipson SF Journal Psychological medicine Year 2003 Study design Case-control study What was tested None - observational study over one menstrual cycle Read the paper [doi.org/10.1017/s0033291702006815](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291702006815)

## Topics

[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Eating disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-eating-disorders/)

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.

## Related studies

Case-control study, 1997

Are PMDD and eating disorders related?

Survey study, 1987

Does binge eating in bulimia get worse before your period?

Systematic review, 2022

Do mental health disorders get worse during the menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 2024

Are menstrual cycle symptoms related to sleep problems and mental health in female athletes?

Survey study, 2022

How common are premenstrual symptoms, and do they change with age?

Survey study, 2021

How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect women's menstrual cycles and symptoms?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗