It would be more obvious for women to stop smoking during the mid-luteal phase, that is, after ovulation, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Psychiatry Journal. Estrogen and progesterone levels are at their highest level, which would facilitate smoking cessation.
Researchers from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Montreal (Canada) observed the brains of male and female smokers (19 women and 15 men) and observed this hormonal peculiarity of women.
The volunteers completed a questionnaire on their consumption habits cigarettes. Their brain activity was observed by magnetic resonance. The measurement was taken while subjects were viewing neutral or craving-smoking images.
Scientists looked at women’s brains at two points in their cycle, at the start of the follicular phase (the first part of the cycle before ovulation) and in the mid-luteal phase. Estrogen and progesterone levels were also analyzed.
“Two objectives were targeted. The first was to check if there were any gender differences at the level of neural circuits linked to the uncontrollable cravings which often manifests itself upon quitting smoking. The second was to determine whether the electrocortical changes associated with the lack of nicotine fluctuated with hormonal variations, ”explains Adrianna Mendrek, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Montreal and researcher at the Research Center of the Institut universitaire en santé mental health of Montreal (IUSMM).
“Our data show that the urge to smoke is stronger at the start of the follicular phase, ie after menstruation. A hormonal decrease in estrogen and progesterone increases the withdrawal syndrome and the activity of neural circuits associated with the uncontrollable desire for to smokeSays Adrianna Mendrek, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Montreal and researcher at the Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute (IUSMM).
“A better knowledge of the neurobiological mechanisms of dependence should make it possible to adapt treatments more precisely to the profile of the smoker”, concludes Mendrek.
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