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A groundbreaking study conducted by psychologist Jaclyn Ross and her team at the University of Illinois Chicago suggests a notable association between menstrual cycles and intensified symptoms of suicidal thoughts.

The findings, published in December in the American Journal of Psychiatry, mark a significant milestone in understanding the intricate relationship between menstruation and mental health.

The study, encompassing 119 female patients with a history of suicidal ideation, meticulously tracked their emotional fluctuations throughout a menstrual cycle.

Surprisingly, the research unveiled a disturbing trend: suicidal thoughts tended to exacerbate in the days preceding and during menstruation, often progressing from ideation to concrete plans of self-harm.

Dr. Tory Eisenlohr-Moul, a co-author of the study, pointed out the urgency of addressing this phenomenon, saying, "I thought if we had some evidence that this was common then maybe we could do something about it," per Vox.

While the study primarily focused on individuals not diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), it shed light on a broader spectrum of mental health implications associated with menstrual cycles.

 According to Ross, a majority of participants grappling with recent suicidal ideation experienced exacerbated symptoms around the onset of menstruation.

"We do find that both suicidal ideation and planning are peaking premenstrually for most people," Ross told the Chicago Tribune.

"Where they tend to experience the lowest levels of ideation and planning is during that early luteal phase (right after ovulation)."

 "Then it steadily ticks up and peaks during that peri-menstrual phase. We found that it tended to be those depressive symptoms, hopelessness, losing interest in things we usually enjoyed -- those were the types of symptoms that were driving those increases in intensity in suicidal ideation during the peri-menstrual phase. It was depression that really drove it for suicidal planning."

The research findings strongly suggested the need for clinicians, psychiatrists and OB-GYNs to integrate discussions about menstrual-related emotional symptoms into patient consultations.

Ross advocates for personalized symptom tracking over several months to identify cyclical patterns, facilitating targeted interventions tailored to individual needs.

Moreover, the study reflects a paradigm shift in menstrual health research, challenging historical silences and stigma surrounding menstruation.