Shortening of the menstrual cycle following light therapy in seasonal affective disorder.
A significantly earlier onset of menstruation by 1.2 days, on average, was found following light therapy in 38 winter depressives; in two of them it could be classified as a minor side effect. There was no association between this shortening and depression improvement. A direct action of light on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is suggested.
Danilenko
Konstantin V
KV
Institute of Internal Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Bogatkova 175/1, Novosibirsk 630089, Russia. dani@irs.ru
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000523:psychology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy; D012016:Reference Values; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000628:therapy*