Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research

09/11/2025

👏 We’re proud to share that CeMCOR research associates Sonia Shirin and Dr. Nahid Shirazian presented their studies at the UBC Division of Endocrinology 2025 Research Fest last week!

👉 Sonia shared findings on ‘Attitudes about Combined Hormonal Contraceptives as Treatment for Androgeni PCOS’ from an international survey conducted back jn 2021.

👉 Dr. Shirazian presented on the relationships between self-worth, menstrual cycles, and ovulation in healthy premenopausal women—published this August in PLOS One.

You can read more about these & other studies—and even join a CeMCOR study as a participant—on our website ➡️ Link in Bio 🔗

09/09/2025

🔔 Our September Newsletter Is Live!

In this issue, Are Women Still ‘Mute Bodies’, or Are We Actually Being Heard?—Dr. Jerilynn C. Prior reflects on how women’s voices continue to be silenced in medical journals and reviews. She also shares how CeMCOR is working to change that—by amplifying women’s lived experiences through our research and studies, and with the help of mainstream media and journalists who are speaking openly about ovulation and menstrual cycles.

We’d love for you to read and share: Link in Bio 🔗

08/29/2025

NEWS! We’re excited to share our latest study on Feelings of Self Worth and Menstrual Cycle Phases, published in PLOS One. Conducted by Dr. Jerilynn C. Prior, Dr. Nahid Shirazian, Sonia Shirin, and Dhani Kalidasan this comprehensive, prospective study of daily Feeling of Self-Worth over 1-year in 53 initially normally ovulatory women showed:

👉 No consistent relationship with any sociodemographic, body size or menstrual/ovulation variable.
👉 Feeling of Self-Worth was associated with other positive experiences such as interest in s*x and feeling of energy. It was also negatively correlated with depression.

As the first study to explore self-worth using validated ovulation-tracking methods, this challenges common assumptions about emotional shifts across the menstrual cycle.

🔗 Visit the Link in our Bio to read the full press release and study results.

07/09/2025

The UBC Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) is inviting persons diagnosed with Endometriosis to participate in an important new study which will bring better insights to

Study eligibility:
✅ Diagnosed with Endometriosis (EndoM)
✅ Between 19-45 years old without 3 typical perimenopausal experiences
✅ Have regular, month-apart cycles (21-35 days long)
✅ Body Mass Index BMI of 18.5-28 range (BMI=weight/height2)
✅ NOT using hormones except Kyleena (>60 days) & Mirena (≥5 years) IUD and
✅ NOT smoking or va**ng
✅Living in Metro Vancouver

🎁 Eligible participants will receive:
- 2 gift cards (1 for each in-person visit)
- “Estrogen’s Storm Season” book by Dr. Prior
- Diva©️menstrual cup on completion of the full study!! ✨

Interested? Contact CeMCOR study coordinator, Dr. Nahid Shirazian:
📞 604-875-5917 | 📧 cemcor.research@ubc.ca

For detailed information about this study and what’s involved – Click the link 🔗 in our bio or visit our website: www.cemcor.ubc.ca/studies

Please note: If you choose to “like” or “follow” this post, you may be publicly associated with the study, which could impact your privacy.

07/03/2025

Do you know someone aged 16-25 who experiences severe menstrual cramps? Help share this study opportunity with a teen or young adult in your life!!

The UBC Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) is inviting youth aged 16-25 to join a new study exploring whether different doses of ibuprofen can better manage severe menstrual pain in adolescents and young adult women+.

Who can join this study?
✅ Those with regular menstrual cycles aged 16-25 years
✅ Experiencing moderate to severe menstrual cramps
✅ Living in Metro Vancouver and able to see us near Vancouver General Hospital

Perks of Participating!
✅ Free Diva© menstrual cup at end of the study
✅ 90 free ibuprofen tablets provided
✅ Only 16 days of participation (with 2 visits to Vancouver General Hospital)

For more information about this study and what’s involved:
Click the link 🔗 in our bio OR visit: www.cemcor.ubc.ca/studies [Menstrual Cramps Ibuprofen Therapy Study]

To participate, contact the UBC Medical Student Research team at:
Phone: 604-875-5960 | Email: cycles.cemcor@ubc.ca

Participants must be based in Metro Vancouver for the duration of the study. Please note: If you choose to “like” or “follow” this post, you may be publicly associated with the study, which could impact your privacy.

07/02/2025

📩 CeMCOR’s July newsletter is out today!

This month, Dr. Jerilynn C. Prior reflects on the commitments that guide her work—from crossing borders to support young researchers, to sharing knowledge directly with the public.

📖 Read the full newsletter on our website: https://cemcor.ubc.ca/news/commitment-based-decisions-across-the-border-july-2025-newsletter/

05/26/2025

✨ Let’s Rethink PCOS Treatment—Together! ✨

Do you have PCOS—or think you might? Long or unpredictable cycles, plus acne, or unwanted hair growth, or a family history? We want to hear from you!

CeMCOR is working to design a new study comparing the ‘Pill’ to Cyclic Progesterone. We have new evidence that progesterone for 2 weeks each month improves quality of life for those with PCOS. But first, we need your input 👇

📝 Fill out our short (~12min) anonymous survey to help researchers understand what matters to YOU in PCOS treatment. Your thoughts and preferences will help shape the way we create this complex study, and what kind of care gets tested and prioritized.

This is about research for YOU, with YOU!

If you’re 19+ and live anywhere in the world, you’re invited to share your thoughts—whether you’ve been formally diagnosed or just suspect you have PCOS.

👉 Take the survey: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bsBv1LZAQn3iPwW

Principal investigator: Dr. Jerilynn C. Prior, MD - UBC CeMCOR

📌 Please note: If you choose to “like” or “follow” this post, you may be publicly associated with this study, which could impact your privacy.

05/23/2025

📣 Call for Participants 📣

The UBC Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation (CeMCOR) is inviting persons diagnosed with Endometriosis to participate in an important new study which will bring better insights to

➡️ Swipe to see if you are eligible
➡️ For detailed information about this study and what’s involved, visit our website – https://cemcor.ubc.ca/endometriosis-and-brown-adipose-tissue-bat-activity-study/

Or you can contact Dr. Nahid Shirazian directly:
📞 604-875-5917 | 📧 cemcor.research@ubc.ca

✨ Eligible participants will receive a gift card on completion of the full study.

Please Note:
– Participants must be based in Metro Vancouver for the duration of the study.
– If you choose to “like” or “follow” this post, you may be publicly associated with the study, which could impact your privacy.

05/07/2025

🎂 Today, the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) celebrates 23 years of advancing science that centers the voices and experiences of women+.

Founded in 2002 by Dr. Jerilynn C. Prior, CeMCOR has led the way in research and education on menstrual and ovulatory health, perimenopause, menopause, bone health, PCOS, and more. 💡

To mark this milestone, we’re proud to launch a new and improved website 💻 - designed to be more accessible, user-friendly, and full of resources that empower women+ to track their cycles and understand their bodies better. 💪

🔗 Visit us at www.cemcor.ubc.ca (link in bio) and explore more than 2 decades of science, tools, and stories that matter! Swipe to see snippets of the new site 👉

Join us in celebrating-we’d love to hear how CeMCOR’s work has made an impact on you! Share your story or birthday wishes for CeMCOR in the comments below 👇

04/24/2025

📩 Our latest newsletter is here-Time for Women+ to ‘Lean In’ and Pay Attention 🌎 In a powerful April message, Dr. Jerilynn Prior reflects on our collective responsibility in these challenging times-to stand up for democracy, equity, the environment, and women+’s hard-won rights! 💪

📣 As she prepares to retire from her UBC Professorship this July, Dr. Prior shares what’s next for CeMCOR-including 2 ongoing studies and the soon-to-be-launched brand new CeMCOR website as we mark our 23rd anniversary this May! 🎉

Read her full message on our website! https://www.cemcor.ca/about-us/media-room/news/2025/newsletter-time-women-lean-and-pay-attention

04/15/2025

📣 Call for Participants 📣 We’re inviting research participants aged 16-25 years with regular menstrual cycles to join an important new study to find out if different doses of ibuprofen can better manage menstrual pain.

✋Who can join this study? ✋
✅ Persons with regular menstrual cycles aged 16-35 years
✅ Experiencing moderate-severe menstrual cramps
✅ Living in Metro Vancouver and able to see us near Vancouver General Hospital
We’ll only need over 2 weeks (16 days) of your time!

✨Perks of participating! ✨
➡️ Get a FREE Diva Menstrual Cup at the end of the study
➡️ 90 FREE ibuprofen tablets provided

Join UBC-CeMCOR’s Menstrual Cramps Ibuprofen Therapy Study ⬇️
👉 For more info, visit our website https://www.cemcor.ca/menstrual-cramps-ibuprofen-therapy-study

Or contact us at:
📞 604-875-5960 | 📧 cycles.cemcor@ubc.ca

Participants must be based in Metro Vancouver for the duration of the study. Please note: if you choose to “like” or “follow” this post, you may be publicly associated with the study, which could impact your privacy.

04/04/2025

CeMCOR’s founder and scientific director, Dr. Jerilynn Prior, was recently featured as an expert in The Edge, Hone Health’s digital editorial publication. The article, published on April 1, explores whether progesterone—commonly used as a supplement during menopause—can contribute to fatigue as a side effect.

Dr. Prior provided insights based on her extensive research on progesterone and menopause, helping to clarify its role in supporting sleep and overall hormonal balance.

Read the full article by clicking the link below!

When prescribed for menopause, progesterone can have a mild sedative effect. Progesterone levels fluctuate throughout a woman’s hormone cycle and impact sleep.