If I quit, will my periods really be less painful?

For most women, yes. Benefits are visible in 2-3 cycles. For those with multifactorial painful periods (endometriosis, fibroid), quitting helps but doesn't remove the cause.

The pill is often recommended for painful periods. Is it a good solution?

For a non-smoker, yes. For a smoker, careful: combined pill + tobacco multiplies vascular risk (see our dedicated article). Prefer a progestogen-only pill or hormonal IUD in that case.

My periods got more painful since I started smoking. Is that normal?

Yes, it's documented. The more you smoke, the higher dysmenorrhoea risk. Quitting improves the situation, even gradually.

Does PMS disappear after quitting?

Not always, but often softens significantly. If PMS stays severe after several smoke-free months, see a doctor for other angles (nutrition, supplementation, treatments).

Does vaping have the same effect as cigarettes on periods?

Better than cigarettes (no CO, no tars), but nicotine remains vasoconstrictive and anti-oestrogen. Use it as a transition to zero nicotine.

Smoking and painful periods: the lesser-known link between cigarettes, dysmenorrhoea and the menstrual cycle

A 9,000-woman study confirms it: women who smoke have 41 % more risk of chronic dysmenorrhoea. Tobacco disrupts the cycle too. Quitting helps.

June 12, 2026 Aria

The scientific basis on quitting smoking was reviewed on a voluntary basis by Pr. Bertrand Dautzenberg , a tobacco specialist, in order to rule out gross, potentially dangerous errors. It reflects positions commonly shared by health professionals and health agencies, without always corresponding exactly to his thinking or his practice. He is not the author of this text; he has only carried out a vigilance review of it.

Many women don't know that smoking worsens painful periods. Yet several studies show it clearly, including a large Australian study of 9,000 women followed for 13 years. If you smoke and your periods knock you out every month, here's one more reason to quit.

Why smoking worsens periods

+ 41 % risk of chronic dysmenorrhoea in smokers vs non-smokers. And + 33 % in ex-smokers. Effect is dose-dependent: the more you smoke, the higher the risk.

Australian study Hong Ju et al., 9,000 women, 13-year follow-up, Tobacco Control 2014

Starting age matters a lot

And premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?

× 2 risk of severe PMS in smokers vs non-smokers. And × 1.8 in ex-smokers who used to smoke more than 25 cigarettes/day.

Compiled studies on smoking and PMS

PMS symptoms worsened in smokers:

More frequent cramps.
More marked abdominal bloating.
Headaches, sometimes migraines.
More pronounced mood swings.
Breast tenderness.

The cycle itself

What changes when you quit

2-3 cycles (3 months) after quitting: pain and PMS improve for most women.
6 months cycle regularisation in many women.
12 months chronic dysmenorrhoea risk dropping, though not fully back to a strict non-smoker's level (partly reversible effect).

The bonus: a better time to quit

In United Kingdom

Your questions

If I quit, will my periods really be less painful?

For most women, yes. Benefits are visible in 2-3 cycles. For those with multifactorial painful periods (endometriosis, fibroid), quitting helps but doesn't remove the cause.
The pill is often recommended for painful periods. Is it a good solution?

For a non-smoker, yes. For a smoker, careful: combined pill + tobacco multiplies vascular risk (see our dedicated article). Prefer a progestogen-only pill or hormonal IUD in that case.
My periods got more painful since I started smoking. Is that normal?

Yes, it's documented. The more you smoke, the higher dysmenorrhoea risk. Quitting improves the situation, even gradually.
Does PMS disappear after quitting?

Not always, but often softens significantly. If PMS stays severe after several smoke-free months, see a doctor for other angles (nutrition, supplementation, treatments).
Does vaping have the same effect as cigarettes on periods?

Better than cigarettes (no CO, no tars), but nicotine remains vasoconstrictive and anti-oestrogen. Use it as a transition to zero nicotine.

sources

Hong Ju et al., Smoking and trajectories of dysmenorrhoea among young Australian women, Tobacco Control, 2014.
Qin LL et al., Association between cigarette smoking and the risk of dysmenorrhea: A meta-analysis of observational studies, PLOS One, 2020.
NHS, Period pain — causes and treatment.
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Heavy menstrual bleeding — guidelines.
Compiled studies on smoking and PMS.