What parents need to know
Excessive screen use can disrupt physiological functions, including regulation of menstrual cycles. Screens affect your daughter’s body, not just her mind.
Full Citation
Goothy, S.S.K., Jabir, N.R., Khumari, M., Sharma, T., & Mahadik, S. (2025). Excess Screen Time and Its Effects on Menstrual Cycle: The Need of the Hour. Current Women’s Health Reviews (in press).
Publication Type
Peer-reviewed research article examining physiological effects of screen time on female reproductive health
What They Studied
Researchers investigated the relationship between excessive screen time and menstrual cycle irregularities in adolescent girls and young women. The study examined how prolonged screen exposure affects hormonal regulation, circadian rhythms, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis that controls menstrual cycles.
Key Findings
- “Excessive screen use can disrupt physiological functions, including the regulation of menstrual cycles”
- Screen time affects multiple body systems, not just cognitive or psychological functions
- The disruption appears to work through multiple mechanisms: blue light exposure affecting circadian rhythms, stress from constant connectivity, and sedentary behavior
- Menstrual irregularities can have long-term health implications beyond just cycle predictability
- The effect is particularly concerning for adolescent girls whose hormonal systems are still developing
- Evening screen use appears particularly problematic due to circadian rhythm disruption
- The finding adds to evidence that screen time has systemic health effects throughout the body
- For parents of daughters, this research highlights that school-mandated screen use may be affecting physical health in ways beyond what’s typically discussed
- The physiological impacts of screen time are often overlooked in discussions focused on academic or mental health effects
- This research suggests screen time should be considered a broader health issue, not just an educational or behavioral one
- Menstrual health is an important indicator of overall hormonal and physiological wellbeing in young women
