Do Asthma Symptoms Worsen During Menstruation?

Do Asthma Symptoms Worsen During Menstruation?

Nearly half of female asthma patients report that their symptoms become more severe during their menstrual cycle. Indeed, as estrogen and progesterone levels drop just before and during menstruation, these hormonal changes can worsen asthma symptoms.

Similarly, hormonal changes from other causes can also affect asthma symptoms, either worsening or improving them, including:

• Irregular periods: Women with irregular periods often have more severe asthma symptoms than others.
• Using contraceptives: Since birth control pills or injections reduce hormonal fluctuations, they seem to help some women alleviate asthma symptoms, especially those affected by menstrual cycles. However, this benefit needs more research to be confirmed.
• Menopause: Hormonal decline due to menopause can worsen asthma symptoms in some women.
• Hormone replacement therapy: Using estrogen and progesterone replacement therapy may also affect asthma symptoms, but more research is needed to confirm this.

If your asthma symptoms worsen during menstruation, your doctor may suggest increasing the dose of asthma medications or trying different medications before your period starts.