Thinking of riding the Teacups or Tilt-a-Whirl? The cycle days you’re less prone to motion sickness

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15 Jul Thinking of riding the Teacups or Tilt-a-Whirl? The cycle days you’re less prone to motion sickness

Posted at 10:31h in hormonology tip, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4 by
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teacupsI don’t know about you, but I try to steer clear of amusement park rides that go around in circles because they make me sick to my stomach. Which is a shame because I had to give up a pretty sweet summer job at Adventureland amusement park in Long Island because they stuck me on the Merry-Go-Round (which I quickly dubbed the Merry-Go-Puke).

If, like me, you tend to get queasy on rides that spin you in circles or see-saw you up-and-down, lose your lunch on boats or can’t stomach reading in cars, then you may find it useful to know which days in your monthly cycle you’re more prone to motion sickness and which days you might be able to chance a ride on the Teacups or Tilt-a-Whirl:

According to a 2008 study in the journal Women’s Health Issues, you’re more susceptible to getting motion sickness during your Week 1 (when you have your period) and your Week 4 (your premenstrual week). And you’re least likely to get queasy during your Week 2 (the week leading up to and including ovulation) and the first day or two of your Week 3 (the week right after ovulation).

As the researchers explain, it may be that a higher level of estrogen on these days enhances parts of the brain that keep you from getting dizzy when being moved around.

Now, this doesn’t mean you definitely won’t toss your cookies during your high-estrogen days if you go on an amusement park ride that goes in circles. (Do they still have that ride that spins so fast you get stuck to the walls and then the floor drops out? I heard from fellow amusement park workers that a lot of vomit was spewed on that one.)

However, if you’re tired of waiting on the sidelines holding all your friends’ purses as they go on rides, now you know which cycle days you can risk joining in on the spintastic fun. (But, pack the wet wipes and breath mints, anyway, just in case.)

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[Photo: Rob Shenk]

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