Shortening of the menstrual cycle following light therapy in seasonal affective disorder
Abstract
A significantly earlier onset of menstruation by 1.2 days, on average, was found following light therapy in 38 winter depressives; in two of them it could be classified as a minor side effect. There was no association between this shortening and depression improvement. A direct action of light on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is suggested.
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Night light shortens the length of the menstrual cycle.
“Several studies (43–45) including ours have shown that night light shortens the length of the menstrual cycle”
From Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon (2021) · cites this paper as [45]
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- Authors
- Danilenko, K. V.
- Corresponding author
- Danilenko, Konstantin V.
- Venue
- Psychiatry Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-09
- Volume
- 153
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 93-95
- ISSN
- 0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2089139835
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Menstrual Health and Disorders
- Keywords
- phototherapy, seasonal affective disorder, hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, menstrual timing, treatment side effects
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Menstrual Cycle, Middle Aged, Phototherapy, Reference Values, Seasonal Affective Disorder
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