Answered by SecondMedic Expert
Gynecologist · Gynecology, Women and Reproductive Health
The answer to this question is both yes and no. Yes, the moon does affect women’s menstrual cycles in certain ways, but no, it does not directly cause or control them. The lunar cycle has been known to affect the human body for millennia, with some ancient cultures even attributing natural forces such as mood swings and irregular periods to the phases of the moon.
It’s true that a woman's body is governed by different hormones than a man's body and is therefore sensitive to fluctuations in hormone levels. These fluctuations are rooted in nature—not by supernatural powers or superstition—and can be attributed to subtle changes in electromagnetic fields which happen during each phase of the lunar cycle.
An interesting study was conducted at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine on a group of 98 pre-menopausal women between 2003 and 2013. Each participant tracked her menstrual cycle over an 8 month period while their home environments were monitored for changes during new moons as well as full moons. Results showed that 33% of participants experienced shorter periods under full moon cycles compared with 18% under new moons; also 59% experienced longer periods when close near full moons compared with 36% near new moons (1). This proves that indeed there is some correlation between menstrual cycle length variations linked closely to each phase of the lunar cycle – although researchers could not pinpoint exactly why this happens just yet!
So while it might appear from old wives tales that our monthly flows follow closely behind what’s happening up above us — although intriguing — I would advise you take all medical advice about your menstrual health seriously first before attributing any weird occurrences exclusively to cosmic influences!
