Menstrual Cycle News and Research

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Flavanol-rich foods offer vascular protection during extended sitting

New research from the University of Birmingham shows that eating flavanol-rich foods-like tea, berries, apples, and cocoa-can protect vascular health in men from the harmful effects of prolonged sitting.

29 Oct 2025

Study finds small but significant sprint gains from dark chocolate milk intake

A new study found that consuming dark chocolate milk before exercise modestly enhanced anaerobic sprint performance in healthy young adults. The gains, seen in total effort time and power output, were small but potentially meaningful for competitive athletes.

23 Oct 2025

Women show peak cognitive performance during ovulation but exercise matters more

Women performed best on cognitive tests during ovulation but physical activity level had a stronger influence on brain function, according to a new study from researchers at UCL.

9 Oct 2025

Why women’s periods once synced with the moon — and what changed

Study reveals women's menstrual cycles follow lunar gravity, with synchronization detected during strong seasonal alignments despite artificial light effects.

30 Sep 2025

Does the menstrual cycle change sports performance?

This review analyzes nearly three decades of research on menstrual cycle phases and their inconsistent effects on women's athletic performance and physiology.

26 Sep 2025

Study reveals bidirectional relationship between long COVID and menstrual disorders

Women suffering from long COVID have a greater risk of experiencing abnormal uterine bleeding.

18 Sep 2025

Long COVID linked to heavier periods and symptom flare-ups during menstruation

Researchers found that long COVID is linked to heavier, longer, and more irregular bleeding without disrupting ovulation. Symptom severity also peaks around menstruation, likely driven by hormonal and immune changes.

17 Sep 2025

Researchers call for comprehensive menstrual education in British schools

Teaching about periods in schools is still too focused on basic biological facts with insufficient information around how menstruation can affect a woman's mood and wellbeing, problems associated with menstrual bleeding and the impact on physical and academic performance, concludes a new study by UCL (University College London) researchers.

20 Aug 2025

Better technology access reduces healthcare gaps for African Americans

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have found that better access to technology can go a long way toward achieving equity in healthcare for African Americans in the United States.

6 Aug 2025

UCSF research maps over 600 conditions linked to endometriosis

Records from millions of patients at UC health centers found correlations between endometriosis, one of the most common diseases in women, and a bounty of other diseases.

31 Jul 2025

Female body odor variations can shape male behavior and emotions

Researchers at the University of Tokyo explored how female body odor can influence behaviors in men. They found certain scent compounds in female body odor increased during ovulation and can subtly influence how men feel.

28 Jul 2025

Gut-brain axis in eating disorders offers new treatment potential

Understanding the gut-brain axis is key to addressing eating disorders. This study highlights microbiota's influence and emerging therapeutic approaches.

16 Jul 2025

Shared brain circuit drives opposite mating behaviors in male and female mice

In animals with social structures, the drive to reproduce is a complex process; governed by the brain, it's influenced by both internal cues such as hormones and external factors such as interactions with potential mates.

16 Jul 2025

Are you at risk? Waist size, not weight, could affect fertility in women

Researchers found that higher relative fat mass (RFM), a measure of visceral body fat, is significantly associated with increased infertility risk in U.S. women aged 20–44. The study suggests RFM may be a more sensitive screening tool for infertility risk than traditional BMI, especially in women with normal weight but high visceral fat.

3 Jul 2025

Vaginal microbiome fights back against stubborn BV infections

Vaginal microbiome-drug interactions affect antibiotic treatment for bacterial vaginosis, emphasizing the need for personalized approaches to enhance efficacy.

3 Jul 2025

Men lose more weight than women on the keto diet, new study reveals why

Men lose more weight than women on a ketogenic diet, according to a comprehensive review in Frontiers in Nutrition. Sex differences in hormones, metabolism, and fat distribution influence the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet for obesity.

22 Jun 2025

Estrogen-responsive cells found to heighten gut pain in females

Researchers uncovered how estrogen heightens gut sensitivity in females by activating PYY-secreting L-cells, which stimulate serotonin release from EC cells. This paracrine circuit intensifies pain signaling and may explain the sex bias in conditions like IBS.

16 Jun 2025

Mild breast tenderness and swelling found to be part of healthy menstrual cycles

A one-year study in healthy women who were also consistently cycling every 21-36 days and had normal ovulation, showed that it is usual to experience mild breast tenderness and swelling before the next period.

27 May 2025

Advanced microscopy reveals how hormonal fluctuations shape the brain

Hormone levels fluctuate like the tides, ebbing and flowing according to carefully orchestrated cycles.

13 May 2025

Menstrual cycle may drive inflammation in women with sickle cell disease

A marker linked to inflammation, C-reactive protein, may increase significantly during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle in female patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to emerging research published today in Blood Vessels, Thrombosis & Hemostasis.

9 Apr 2025