Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42911374›Full record

ArticleReproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)2026

Breath Volatile Organic Compounds Across the Menstrual Cycle: A Pilot Study Using PTR-TOF-MS.

C Eckhardt, W Lederer, L Wildt, B Böttcher, V Ruzsanyi

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Article in Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

C EckhardtDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
W LedererDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
L WildtMedical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
B BöttcherDepartment of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria. Bettina.boettcher@i-med.ac.at.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7745-9130
V RuzsanyiInstitute for Breath Research, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52a, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAccurate identification of ovulation remains challenging due to pronounced inter- and intra-individual variability of reproductive hormones. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath may vary across the menstrual cycle and offer a non-invasive complementary approach to menstrual cycle assessment.

methodsIn this pilot study, exhaled breath VOCs were measured using proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry in five healthy women across follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases of a natural menstrual cycle. The VOC profiles were compared between ovulatory and non-ovulatory measurements, and correlations with serum hormone concentrations of estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), and progesterone (P) were explored.

resultsA significant difference between ovulatory and non-ovulatory measurements was observed for the ion m/z 41.04 (p = 0.021). Non-significant trends toward higher concentrations during ovulation were detected for isoprene-related signals.

conclusionBreath VOCs exhibit phase-dependent alterations across the menstrual cycle. The observed increase in the m/z 41.04 signal during ovulation may reflect integrated metabolic adaptations associated with endocrine changes rather than direct surrogates of circulating hormone concentrations.

Indexed as

Follicular phaseLuteal phaseMass spectrometryMenstrual cycleOvulation predictionVolatile organic compounds

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PMID42911374

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