SYMPTOMATOLOGY ACROSS THE MENSTRUAL-CYCLE IN SMOKING AND NONSMOKING WOMEN

Recent studies suggest that both smoking rates and general menstrual s ymptomatology increase in women premenstrually; however, no study has investigated the changes in menstrual symptomatology and smoking behav ior in both smoking and nonsmoking women over an entire menstrual cycl e. Thirty premenopausal women completed daily symptom checklists over an entire menstrual cycle. Smokers also recorded their smoking behavio r. Results indicated that symptom severity was greatest during menses for both smoking and nonsmoking women. For cigarette consumption, anal yses indicated that women smokers appear to smoke more during menses a nd the luteal phases than ovulation and that variability in smoking wa s greatest premenstrually. In summary, results indicated that general menstrual symptomatology increases during menses and the late luteal p hase and that smoking-deprivation symptomatology increase in both smok ers and nonsmokers. This suggests that smokers may have a difficult ti me quitting during menses or the luteal phase of their cycle.