Note the Menstrual Cycle If you want to check Cholesterol


Cholesterol tests done to find out if someone is at risk of developing the disease or not. But for women, you should note the menstrual cycle, because cholesterol levels are affected by this cycle.

The study reported in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found cholesterol levels go down and up according to the menstrual cycle, so it must be considered to get accurate results.

In a study by the National Institutes of Health known cholesterol affected this cycle, hence cholesterol testing should be performed at the same time each month according to the cycle.

"Cholesterol levels are highest in the first half of the cycle, then after ovulation levels began to fall," said researcher Sunni L Mumford, PhD from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Rockville, as quoted by WebMD, Monday (16/4 / 2012).

At the time this study researchers measured levels of female sex hormone estrogen, cholesterol and blood fats called triglycerides of 259 women aged 18-44 years. Measurements taken 2 times for 2 menstrual cycles as well as the use of fertility tests to determine time of ovulation (fertile period).

When estrogen levels rise, the good cholesterol (HDL) also increases when reaching ovulation. However, total cholesterol, bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides will decrease with increasing estrogen.

If total cholesterol is less than 200 mg / dl of blood, is still considered normal, if the cholesterol level between 200-239 mg / dl of blood had gone into the borderline high, while if more than 240 mg / dl or more is considered high.

"This study is interesting and important. If that cholesterol levels vary with the menstrual cycle, then the measurement must be adjusted to optimal treatment," said Marianne J Legato, MD, professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians.