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. 2015 Mar 10;17(4):407–421. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntu249

Table 3.

Studies of Smoking Cessation/Relapse and Menstrual Cycle Phase/Ovarian Hormones

Reference Reference note Type of treatment Length of treatment Number of menstrual phases assessed Menstrual cycle phases assessed Random assignment to menstrual phase for quit attempt? Primary findings
Mazure et al. 42 Bupropion (300mg) 6 weeks 2 Follicular, luteal No Greater point prevalence abstinence for participants who quit during the luteal phase (62.5%) compared to the follicular phase (29.4%, p < .05) at the end of the trial. No significant differences in quit rates by menstrual cycle phase at the three month follow-up (luteal phase, 18.8%; follicular phase, 11.8%; p > .05).
Epperson et al. 35 TNP (21mg/ day), Naltrexone (0, 25, 50, 100mg) 6 weeks 2 Follicular, luteal No No significant differences in quit rates by menstrual cycle phase
Allen, Allen, Lunos, et al. 46 Secondary analysis of Allen et al. 51 Counseling 26 weeks 2 Follicular, luteal Noa More participants relapsed during the follicular phase than the luteal phase (59.7% vs. 40.3%, p < .05). The majority of participants (65.9%) relapsed in the same phase in which they quit smoking.
Allen, Allen, Widenmier, et al. 48 Secondary analysis of Allen et al. 51 Counseling 26 weeks 2 Follicular, luteal Yes No significant differences in time to relapse to smoking by menstrual cycle phase
Allen, Allen, and Pomerleau 49 Secondary analysis of Allen et al. 51 Counseling 26 weeks 2 Follicular, luteal Yes No significant differences in quit rates by menstrual cycle phase
Allen et al. 51 Counseling 26 weeks 2 Follicular, luteal Yes More participants who quit during the follicular phase had relapsed to smoking after 14 days (84%) and 30 days (86%) compared to the participants who quit during the luteal phase (14 days, 65%; 30 days, 66%; ps < .001). With regard to the outcome variable of days until seven slips, participants who quit smoking during the follicular phase relapsed to smoking in a fewer number of days (M = 20.6 days, SD = 45.8) than participants who quit in the luteal phase (M = 39.2, SD = 59.0, p < .05). The majority of participants relapsed in the same phase in which they quit smoking (Continuous abstinence, 88%–91%; prolonged abstinence, 69%–76%).
Carpenter et al. 52 TNP (21mg/ day), Counseling 6 weeks 2 Follicular, luteal Yes Non-significant trend of higher point prevalence abstinence after 2 weeks for participants who quit during the follicular phase (treatment initiators, 32%; intention to treat sample, 24%) compared to the luteal phase (19%, 16%).
Franklin et al. 53 TNP (21mg/ day), Counseling 8 weeks 2 Follicular, luteal No Greater abstinence for participants who quit during the follicular phase vs. the luteal phase after 3 days of treatment (81% vs. 48%, p < .05) and 1 week after the end of TNP treatment (69% vs. 29%, p < .05).

– = not applicable, not reported, or unable to calculate from available data; TNP = transdermal nicotine patch.

aParticipants were women who had relapsed after a quit attempt and self-selected the timing of a second quit attempt.