Voice in different phases of menstrual cycle among naturally cycling women and users of hormonal contraceptives

Abstract

Previous studies have shown changes in women's behavior and physical appearance between the non-fertile and fertile phases of the menstrual cycle. It is assumed that these changes are regulated by fluctuations in sex hormone levels across the cycle. Receptors for sex hormones have been found on the vocal folds, suggesting a link between hormone levels and vocal fold function, which might cause changes in voice production. However, attempts to identify changes in voice production across the menstrual cycle have produced mixed results. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate changes in sexually dimorphic vocal characteristics and quality of women’s voices in different phases of the cycle and to compare these with users of monophasic hormonal contraception. Voice samples (vowel phonation) of 44 naturally cycling women were obtained in the menstrual, late follicular (confirmed by LH surge) and luteal phases, and in 20 hormonal contraceptive users across equivalent stages of the monthly cycle. Results showed that voices of naturally cycling women had higher minimum pitch in the late follicular phase compared with the other phases. In addition, voice intensity was at its lowest in the luteal phase. In contrast, there were no voice changes across the cycle in hormonal contraceptive users. Comparison between the two groups of women revealed that the naturally cycling group had higher minimum pitch in the fertile phase and higher harmonics to noise ratio in the menstrual phase. In general, present results support the assumption that sex hormones might have an effect on voice function. These results, coupled with mixed findings in previous studies, suggest that vocal changes in relation to hormonal fluctuation are subtle, at least during vowel production. Future studies should explore voice changes in a defined social context and with more free-flowing speech.

Fertility-Dependent Acoustic Variation in Women’s Voices Previously Shown to Affect Listener Physiology and Perception

“… Bryant and Haselton (2009) showed increases in F 0 during higher fertility times. Pavela Banai (2017) found an increase in the minimum F 0 at high fertility compared to lower fertility, but no change in mean F 0 values across the cycle. In contrast, both Karthikeyan and Locke (2015) and Fischer et al (2011) documented decreases in F 0 at high fertility.…”

Relationships Between Acoustic Characteristics of Female Voice and Self-Reported Personality Traits

“…Sudionice su bile studentice raznih studijskih grupa na Sveučilištu u Zadru, prosječne dobi od 21,67 godina (SD = 1,75). Prilikom prikupljanja uzorka u obzir su uzeti nalazi prijašnjih istraživanja, koji upućuju na utjecaj spolnih hormona (estrogena i progesterona) na produkciju glasa (Abitbol, Abitbol i Abitbol, 1999;Amir, Kishon-Rabin i Muchnik, 2002;Bryant i Haselton, 2009;Chae, Choi, Kang, Choi i Jin, 2001; Fischer i sur., 2011; Karthikeyan i Locke, 2015; Pavela Banai, 2017a, 2017b. Stoga su postavljeni sljedeći uvjeti koje su sudionice trebale zadovoljiti kako bi mogle sudjelovati u istraživanju: odsutnost bolesti endokrinoga sustava, stabilno dugi menstrualni ciklusi u trajanju od 23 do 36 dana u razdoblju od minimalno tri mjeseca prije ispitivanja, odsutnost bolesti reproduktivnoga sustava (policistični jajnici, endometrioza i sl.)…”

“…Kako je već spomenuto, dosadašnja istraživanja pokazuju da se neke značajke glasa mijenjaju kod žena u skladu s fluktuacijom spolnih hormona tijekom menstrualnoga ciklusa (Abitbol i sur., 1999; Amir i sur., 2002; Bryant i Haselton, 2009; Chae i sur., 2001; Fischer i sur., 2011; Karthikeyan i Locke, 2015; Pavela Banai, 2017aBanai, , 2017b. Stoga, kako bi se dobila što preciznija mjera značajki glasa, u ovom su istraživanju uzeti uzorci glasa sudionica koji su snimljeni u tri faze menstrualnoga ci-klusa (menstrualna, kasna folikularna i lutealna).…”

“…Dužina ciklusa pojedinih sudionica pratila se tri mjeseca prije početka samog istraživanja. Na temelju podataka o regularnosti ciklusa prikupljenih u tri mjeseca određeni su termini snimanja za svaku sudionicu (za detaljne informacije o praćenju regularnosti ciklusa vidjeti Pavela Banai, 2017a, 2017b. Snimanje u menstrualnoj fazi provedeno je treći ili četvrti dan ciklusa, kada su razine progesterona i estrogena niske (Wilcox, Dunson i Baird, 2000;Wilcox, Dunson, Weinberg, Trussell i Baird, 2001).…”

“…Mjerenje u kasnoj folikularnoj fazi provedeno je u razdoblju plodnih dana, od pet dana prije ovulacije i na sâm dan ovulacije (Wilcox i sur., 2000(Wilcox i sur., , 2001, pri čemu je ovulacija potvrđena detektiranjem porasta luteinizirajućega hormona u mokraći. Snimanje glasa u lutealnoj fazi provedeno je od 7 +/-2 dana nakon identificirane ovulacije, odnosno prije očekivane menstruacije (za detaljne informacije o metodi određivanja svih faza menstrualnoga ciklusa vidjeti Pavela Banai, 2017a, 2017b.…”