Normal variation in the length of the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle: effect of chronological age
Abstract
Summary.: Normal probability plots were used to analyse the distribution of follicular phase length in a population of 293 apparently ovulatory menstrual cycles from women aged between 18 and 39 years. The length of the follicular phase was defined as the interval (in days) from the onset of menstruation up to, but not including, the day of the LH peak. Follicular phase length appeared to be log‐normally distributed and graphical inspection of the probability plot suggested that the geometric mean (and 95% confidence limits) of follicular phase length in this study group was 12–9 (10–3 to 16–3) days. There was a significant decrease (P<0.001) in follicular phase length with chronological age, from 14–2 days in women aged 18–24 years to 10.4 days in women aged 40–44 years.
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We found a significant decrease in cycle length with age.
“As earlier studies have already shown (11, 23–26), we found a significant decrease in cycle length with age (Table 1 and Figs. 2 and 3).”
From Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon (2021) · cites this paper as [25]
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- Authors
- LENTON, E. A., LANDGREN, B., SEXTON, L., & HARPER, R.
- Affiliations
- Jessop Hospital (GB)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Corresponding author
- LENTON, ELIZABETH A.
- Venue
- BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1984-07
- Volume
- 91
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 681-684
- ISSN
- 0306-5456 (ISSN-L)
- 1470-0328
- 1471-0528
- OpenAlex
- W2120850875
- Cited by
- 190
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 1.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Biology and Fertility
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Keywords
- follicular phase length, menstrual cycle, chronological age, luteinizing hormone surge, lognormal distribution, reference values, ovulation, women of reproductive age
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aging, Female, Follicular Phase, Humans, Luteinizing Hormone, Menstruation, Probability, Reference Values, Time Factors
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