Does Molimina Indicate Ovulation? Prospective Data in a Hormonally Documented Single-Cycle in Spontaneously Menstruating Women

Jerilynn C. Prior, Chiaki Konishi, Christine L. Hitchcock, Elaine Kingwell, Patti Janssen, Anthony P. Cheung, Nichole Fairbrother and Azita Goshtasebi
Additional contact information
Jerilynn C. Prior: Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
Chiaki Konishi: Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
Christine L. Hitchcock: Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
Elaine Kingwell: Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
Patti Janssen: Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
Anthony P. Cheung: Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
Nichole Fairbrother: Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1, Canada
Azita Goshtasebi: Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-10

Abstract: Approximately 33% of normal-length (21–35 days) cycles have subclinical ovulatory disturbances and lack sufficient progesterone, although their normal length ensures enough estrogen. Subclinical ovulatory disturbances are related to significant premenopausal spine bone loss (−0.86%/year). Molimina, non-distressing premenstrual experiences, may detect ovulation within normal-length cycles. This prospective study assessed the relationship between molimina and ovulation. After 1-cycle of daily diary and first morning urine collections, women answered the Molimina Question (MQ): “ Can you tell by the way you feel that your period is coming? ” and were invited to share (a) predictive premenstrual experience(s). A 3-fold increase in follicular-luteal pregnanediol levels confirmed ovulation. In 610 spontaneously menstruating women (not on hormonal contraception, mean age 31.5 ± 5.3, menarche age 12.7 ± 1.5, cycle length [CL] 29 days, MQ positive in 89%), reported premenstrual experiences which included negative moods (62%), cramps (48%), bloating (39%), and front (26%) or axillary (25%) breast tenderness. Of 432 women with pregnanediol-documented cycles, 398 (92%) were ovulatory (CL: 29 ± 5) and 34 (8%) had ovulatory disturbances (CL: 32 ± 14). Women with/without ovulatory cycles were similar in parity, body mass index, smoking, dietary restraint and the MQ; ovulatory-disturbed cycles were longer. Molimina did not confirm ovulation. A non-invasive, inexpensive ovulation indicator is needed to prevent osteoporosis.

Keywords: menstrual cycle; ovulation; molimina; pregnanediol; axillary breast tenderness; subclinical ovulatory disturbances; premenstrual symptoms; osteoporosis; Menstrual Cycle Diary (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:5:p:1016-:d:147446

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