Smoking and lifestyle risk factors for premenstrual changes

Institution:	University of California, Davis
Investigator(s):	Ellen Gold, Ph.D.
Award Cycle:	1998 (Cycle 7)	Grant #: 7RT-0105	Award: $297,783
Subject Area:	Epidemiology
Award Type:	Research Project Awards

Abstracts

Initial Award Abstract

Premenstrual symptoms are an important health problem among women of reproductive age. Approximately 50% of women experience premenstrual symptoms at some time in their lives. In this proposed project, we plan to investigate the relationship between smoking and premenstrual symptoms.

Active and passive smoking pose unique but preventable health risks to women. Exposure to tobacco smoke is known to affect reproductive hormones in women. Since these hormones are likely to play a role in causing premenstrual symptoms, it is plausible that smoking may increase the frequency and severity of symptoms. Some previous studies suggest that smoking may worsen premenstrual symptoms, however, results from other studies do not confirm these findings. Passive smoking has not been investigated as a risk factor for premenstrual symptoms, but may also increase the frequency and severity of symptoms.

We plan to conduct a study that will examine the effects of active smoking and passive smoke exposure to premenstrual symptoms. Two groups of' women, between the ages of 20 and 39 will be studied to investigate the role of active and passive exposure to smoke and premenstrual symptoms. The first group of women will be recruited from Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in the Sacramento area. These women will be asked to participate in recording their symptoms and other .habits and activities in a daily diary. Daily records over several menstrual cycles are important for accurate diagnosis of premenstrual symptoms We will also conduct a secondary analysis of data previously collected in a study of reproductive health among women in the Semiconductor Health Study (SHS), including six premenstrual symptoms, daily smoking, passive smoke exposure and cotinine levels collected prospectively over a mean of 5 menstrual cycles.

A well-designed epidemiologic study of the effects of active and passive smoking on PMC will add much to our knowledge of the health consequences of active and passive exposure to smoke in reproductive age women. Additionally, the results will inform current prevention and treatment strategies for premenstrual symptoms.

Publications

Lifestyle risk factors for premenstrual symptoms.
Periodical: University of California, Davis Conference on Women's Health			Index Medicus:
Authors: Elcock M, Gold E, Sommer B, Samuels S				ABS
Yr: 0	Vol:	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg:

Lifestyle risk factors for premenstrual symptoms.
Periodical: University of California, Davis Conference on Women's Health			Index Medicus:
Authors: Elcock M, Gold E, Sommer B, Samuels S				ABS
Yr: 0	Vol:	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: