Raise your voice: how menstruation affects your vocals
Photo: Cottonbro studio / Pexels
A fascinating recent Times article documented various opera singers’ period reality, having taken to social media in uniting to share their experiences of operatic performance and the menstrual cycle. Their experiences highlighted the stigma attached to sparking conversation around menstruation in various settings and showed just how little this topic is discussed in the vocal performance sector.
Vocals and the menstrual cycle are more interconnected than you may think. The menstrual cycle can potentially have a large impact upon vocals; being particularly present and/or noticeable for professional singers, e.g. opera singers.
Interestingly, back in olden days Europe, premenstrual days off from performing were appointed to prevent vocal damage. Yet this is not common practice nowadays and this relationship is widely underrepresented in vocal education within music colleges and academic research (with most papers on the topic being 5+ years old).
This blog will discuss the physical and emotional implications of the menstrual cycle on vocals, as well as potential management strategies.
PHYSICAL
To understand the physical impacts of the menstrual cycle on vocals, it’s essential to first explore the link between vocal physiology and sex hormones, so here’s some brief context:
The larynx, home to the vocal cords (i.e. the singing muscles), is deeply connected to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. Specialised receptors in the vocal fold mucosa react to fluctuating oestrogen and progesterone levels which - in turn - can trigger an array of physical symptoms in the larynx which affect vocal ability.
Hormonal fluctuations leading up to and during menstruation can cause swelling, tension, and hoarseness in the vocal cords, which then affects vocal ability through a reduced vocal range, weakened power, loss of particular harmonics, and vocal fatigue.
EMOTIONAL
While the physical elements are extremely important, they only represent a portion of the challenges. The emotional impacts from the menstrual cycle and its hormonal fluctuations can have just as much impact on performance and vocals as the physical; depending on the individual, this can impede vocal performance.
In the Times article previously mentioned about Opera Singing and Periods, Elsa Dreisig (French-Danish soprano) explained a phase in her cycle where she felt disconnected from her body and emotions, making performance much more difficult. After tracking where this was most prominent in her cycle, she concluded that this was affecting her in the week leading up to her period.
Contrarily, some people may find these hormonal fluctuations can add extra emotional expression into the performance and positively enhance it. Furthermore, singing can be a good emotional outlet for when you are on your period.
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Management strategies are very personal to you and your period reality. Every person is different and while some may find strategies that work for them, it could make it worse for others. However, there are some options for potential management strategies to trial and see if they are right for you.
From the experience of opera singers in the Times article, one of their personal management strategies included allowing time for self-care (including yoga) and warming up vocals more than usual. Another opera singer said that they sometimes cancel performances or even refuse to perform during certain points in their cycle that they know affect their vocals.
Some studies suggest that the combined oral contraceptive pill can impact vocal ability, possibly due to the artificial interference of hormone fluctuations. Switching birth control methods could potentially enhance vocals, but more research is needed to fully understand its effects on vocals.
CONCLUSION
Understanding the physical and emotional relationship between the menstrual cycle and vocals will allow you to give yourself grace and understand that your technical ability hasn’t suddenly declined.
This topic highlights why the menstrual cycle should be considered in every aspect of life, as it has the potential to affect every aspect of life. More advocacy, education and research is needed to further understand - and make adjustments for – vocal ability during certain phases of the menstrual cycle.
Because of this lack of attention for the topic, there are few evidence-based solutions. Everybody has a different period reality, and we would love to hear about your experience with vocals across the menstrual cycle in our Story bank. Please share yours here.
REFERENCES:Çelik.O, Çelik.A, Atespare.A, Boyaci.Z, Çelebi.S, Gündüz.T, Aksungar.F, Yelken.K, (2013); ‘Voice and Speech Changes in Various Phases of Menstrual Cycle’; Journal of Voice; Vol.27, No.5; [Online]; Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2013.02.006; Accessed 14 April 2024.Drumm.I, (2017); Roles for Leading Ladies: Investigating the influence of ovarian hormones on performance anxiety and vocal impairment in elite singing; [Online]; Available from: http://www.tara.tcd.ie/bitstream/handle/2262/81899/RIAM%20DMusPerf%20Imelda%20Drumm.pdf?sequence=1; Accessed 17 April 2024.Franks.R, (2024); ‘Seeing red – why opera stars want to talk periods’; The Times; [Online]; Available from: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/seeing-red-why-opera-stars-want-to-talk-periods-2v8jm26mz; Accessed 14 April 2024.Gunjawate.D, Aithal.V, Ravi.R, Venkatesh.B, (2017); ‘The Effect of Menstrual Cycle on Singing Voice: A Systematic Review’; Journal of Voice; Vol.31, No.2; [Online]; Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0892199716300984; Accessed 17 April 2024.Lã.F, Sundberg.J, Howard.D, Sa-Couto.P, Freitas.A, (2012); Effects of the Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraception on Singer’s Pitch Control; [Online]; Available from: http://e-spacio.uned.es/fez/eserv/bibliuned:425-Lfilipa-0007/MARTINS_BAPTISTA_LA_FILIPA_Effects_of_the_menstrual.pdf; Accessed 17 April 2024.