Reacción a "The increasing use of smartphones and LED lights prevents synchronisation between menstrual and lunar cycles"

As in other living beings, our body is coordinated by a central clock that responds mainly to the light-dark cycle, thus regulating our behaviour. However, in the reproductive sphere, and unlike what is observed in many animal species, there is still controversy about the influence of the moon on the menstrual cycle.

In this new longitudinal study published in the prestigious scientific journal Science Advances, the team led by Dr. Charlotte Helfrich-Förster analyses more than 170 menstrual records of women of different nationalities, collected between 1950 and 2024, to explore their relationship with lunar cycles, established based on the luminescence or gravitational effect of the satellite. The results show a certain synchrony between menstruation and the full moon and new moon phases, especially before 2010. After that date, this association appears to weaken, which the authors relate to increasing exposure to LED light, both from urban centres and electronic screens. On the contrary, the analysis reveals that the influence of gravitational lunar cycles seems to remain, being more pronounced in January due to the proximity of the Earth and the Moon to the Sun.

The publication is based on solid data and methods, thus expanding on previous research on this phenomenon and also supporting the existence of previously unknown regulatory mechanisms of the menstrual cycle, as noted in another interesting article published in the same journal last April. It should be noted that these are correlations, not a proven causal relationship, due to the complexity of the phenomenon, so the finding may not be generalisable to all women. In any case, this research consolidates an interesting field of study that deserves to be explored in the coming years.

From a chronobiology perspective, this research emphasises the importance of environmental factors, such as exposure to artificial light at night, in the regulation of reproductive physiology. Beyond the scientific curiosity aroused by the relationship between the moon and the menstrual cycle, the findings invite reflection on how changes in our modern lifestyle can modulate fundamental biological rhythms. Encouraging habits that respect circadian rhythms, such as adequate sleep hygiene and reduced exposure to night-time light, is essential for promoting overall health.