Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2021 papers

Abstract

Many species synchronize reproductive behavior with a particular phase of the lunar cycle to increase reproductive success. In humans, a lunar influence on reproductive behavior remains controversial, although the human menstrual cycle has a period close to that of the lunar cycle. Here, we analyzed long-term menstrual recordings of individual women with distinct methods for biological rhythm analysis. We show that women's menstrual cycles with a period longer than 27 days were intermittently synchronous with the Moon's luminance and/or gravimetric cycles. With age and upon exposure to artificial nocturnal light, menstrual cycles shortened and lost this synchrony. We hypothesize that in ancient times, human reproductive behavior was synchronous with the Moon but that our modern lifestyles have changed reproductive physiology and behavior.

Related Papers

• → Use of CA125 fluctuation during the menstrual cycle as a tool in the clinical diagnosis of endometriosis; a preliminary report(2004)67 cited
• → The Menstrual Cycle(2008)57 cited
• Research situation of the women's menstrual cycle performance and impact factors(2013)
• Investigation on the attitude of 1266 women to menstrual cycle(2011)
• → Relationship between Menstrual Stress Levels and Menstrual Cycle in Medical Students(2022)