Problemas de salud

How your cycle can affect other conditions

Revisado: 4 de octubre de 2026

Solo en inglés por ahora

Hormone changes across your cycle can make some long-term conditions, such as asthma, epilepsy or migraine, worse at certain times. Tracking can help you spot a pattern.

Why your cycle can matter

Levels of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone rise and fall across your menstrual cycle. These changes affect more than your womb. If you have a long-term health condition, your symptoms may get worse at certain points in your cycle, often in the days just before your period. This can happen with asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and depression. Not everyone with these conditions notices a link.

Asthma

Some people find their asthma symptoms get worse before or during their period. Changing hormone levels may make the airways more swollen (inflamed). If you think this happens to you, keep a diary of your asthma symptoms alongside your periods and talk to your doctor or asthma nurse. Use any preventer inhaler every day, as your doctor or nurse advised. Get emergency help if an asthma attack gets worse, your reliever inhaler does not help as your plan says it should, or you do not have your inhaler with you.

Epilepsy

For some people with epilepsy, seizures happen more often at certain times in the cycle. This is called catamenial epilepsy, and some research suggests it may affect about 4 in 10 women with epilepsy, though figures differ between studies. Seizures may increase in the days before and during a period, around ovulation, or in the second half of the cycle. Keeping a diary of your cycle and seizures for 3 months can help you see a pattern. If you see one, talk to your epilepsy specialist. They may suggest extra medicine on the days you are most at risk. Call for emergency help if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or longer than usual, or one seizure follows another without recovery in between.

Diabetes, migraine, IBS and mood

If you have diabetes, your blood sugar (glucose) may be harder to control in the second half of your cycle. Migraine, IBS and depression can all get worse right before a period starts. People with depression are also more likely to have premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a more severe form. If you are thinking about harming yourself, get emergency help or contact a crisis line now.

How tracking helps your care team

A record of your cycle alongside your symptoms is a good way to see a pattern. Logging your period, symptoms, mood and notes in Ciclo for a few months can help you show your doctor or nurse when symptoms flare. Talk to your care team about anything that is new or different. Do not change or stop any medicine without advice. If symptoms become severe, follow your emergency plan or get emergency help.

This is general information, not medical advice for your condition. Talk to your care team before changing any treatment.