Lunar and menstrual phase locking
Abstract
In a selected population of 312 women, prospective menses records were maintained during the autumn of 1977. Women whose menstrual cycle duration approaches the cycle duration of the earth's moon (29.5 days) tend to ovulate in the dark phase of the lunar period. The dark phase encompasses the half-cycle of the month from last quarter, through new moon, to first quarter. Women showing irregular menses also tended to ovulate during the dark phase of the lunar period.
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No correlation between menses onset and the lunar cycle was found in studies that did not select for a cycle length of 29.5 days.
“However, no correlation between menses onset and the lunar cycle was found in other studies that did not select for a cycle length of 29.5 days [reviewed in (13, 14)].”
From Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
Among populations of women selected for a cycle length of 29.5 ± 1 days, a significant pattern of menses onset at full moon emerged.
“Among populations of women selected for a cycle length of 29.5 ± 1 days, a significant pattern of menses onset at full moon emerged (13–15).”
From Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
The paper's principal results are consistent with earlier studies on menstrual, mood, and sleep-wake cycles, which showed that humans are sensitive to the Moon's luminance cycle and synchronize with it.
“Our principal results are consistent with the results of earlier studies on menstrual, mood, and sleep-wake cycles, which revealed that humans are sensitive to the Moon’s luminance cycle and even synchronize with it (10, 13–15, 29, 39, 40).”
From Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
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- Authors
- Cutler, W. B.
- Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Corresponding author
- Cutler, Winnifred Berg
- Venue
- American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1980-08
- Volume
- 137
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 834-839
- ISSN
- 0002-9378 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1549139482
- Cited by
- 69
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Menstrual Health and Disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Keywords
- lunar phases, menstrual cycle, ovulation timing, menstrual irregularity
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Menstruation, Ovulation, Periodicity, Time Factors
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