Yes, it’s true, a woman’s voice changes throughout the menstrual cycle. The changes are most noticeable during menstruation and ovulation.

Changes in a girl’s voice throughout the sexual cycle are because of the influence of sex hormones on the larynx and vocal cords. Just like the cervix, the larynx has receptors for sex hormones and is liable to change based on physiological variations throughout the cycle.

It’s these same variations in the degrees of the several sex hormones (estrogens, progesterone, and androgens) that also take part in emotional changes, irritability, and other changes.

Understanding the menstrual cycle

In women with regular menstrual cycles, there are often about 28 to 30 days of repeated changes. The hormones present cyclical variations and are divided into two phases: follicular and luteal.

Follicular phase

Menstruation marks the start of the brand new menstrual cycle and initiates the follicular phase, which ends when ovulation occurs. From this, the luteal phase begins, which persists until the time of bleeding.

In the primary days of the follicular phase, estrogen and progesterone levels are low. This mixture produces cellular desquamation of the uterus resulting in bleeding or menstruation.

Nonetheless, estrogen increases progressively until day 14, when estrogen peaks and ovulation occurs. In the course of the follicular phase, the egg matures and ovulation occurs .

Luteal phase

After ovulation, the luteal phase begins. It generates the potential for pregnancy. If fertilization doesn’t occur, the egg is discarded at the top of the cycle.

On the time of ovulation, progesterone stays at kind of low levels, but then increases to above estradiol levels. It stays so until the top of the menstrual cycle.

Estrogen and progesterone concentration in the several phases

In the course of the premenstrual period (days 23-28), menstrual (day 1-4) and within the postmenstrual phase (day 5-10), estrogen levels predominate but aren’t as high. In the course of the follicular phase, until ovulation (days 13-15), they reach their maximum concentration peak.

However, progesterone levels increase after ovulation, they usually’re maintained until before menstruation (days 15-28).

How does the menstrual cycle affect a girl’s voice?

Changes in a girl’s voice throughout the menstrual cycle are because of the effect on the various levels of estrogen (predominant in the primary phase) and progesterone (foremost within the second phase). The motion is exerted on receptors present within the larynx and vocal folds.

Thus, hormonal variations cause modifications within the mucosa, vascularization and mucus production of the vocal folds. However, hormones also hinder the arrival of nerve signals which are sent to the folds of the vocal folds.

Estrogens modify a girl’s voice because they increase mucous secretion by the glands above and below the perimeters of the vocal folds. This provides greater viscosity and facilitates mobility. As well as, they increase the permeability of the capillaries, favoring tissue oxygenation.

It occurs within the follicular phase, near the ovulation period.

Then, within the phase through which progesterone predominates, there’s venous dilatation, swelling of the vocal folds, and consequent fluid retention. Chances are you’ll notice congestion, swelling of the vocal cords, presence of micro varicose veins they usually may even bleed.

How do hormonal changes manifest themselves in a girl’s voice?

In the course of the period through which progesterone predominates, a girl’s voice tends to be thicker, deeper, coarser, rougher, more broken, and even monotonous. That is because of water retention.

When the progressive increase of estrogens occurs, the surplus liquid is eliminated, giving rise to a clearer, higher-pitched voice, with the flexibility to achieve higher notes and maintain a greater vibration and frequency. We’d say that the voice tends to sound more attractive.

A lady’s voice evolves throughout life

From childhood to menopause, a girl’s voice is influenced by hormonal variations. At puberty, the impact of estrogen and progesterone causes a deepening of the voice.

At menopause, because of the decline of estrogen and progesterone, there’s a decrease within the range and frequency of the voice. It becomes hoarse and deep, with difficulty in reaching high notes and vocal fatigue appears.

There’s also the so-called premenstrual vocal syndrome. On this syndrome, related to progesterone levels, there’s fatigue, decreased range, and a lack of power and a few harmonies.