According to a recent study published in The Lancet Planetary Health, increased exposure to air pollution could lead to complications for women’s menstrual health.
For their study, leading authors from the University of Colorado-Denver and MIT’s Senseable City Lab collaborated with researchers at Clue, a menstrual cycle tracking app. The authors examined data from 2016 to 2020 regarding more than 2.2 million menstrual cycles tracked in Clue by users in 230 cities across the United States, Brazil, and Mexico.
The analysis revealed a connection between long-term exposure to higher concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air and an increased frequency of menstrual cycle irregularities, a known indicator associated with an increased risk of several health complications, including premature mortality, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and infertility.
The authors believe their findings provide key insights into how climate change will continue to impact women’s health going forward. They also suggest women should both monitor their cities air pollution levels and track their menstrual cycles so that any changes can be caught early and addressed with a healthcare provider.