Does stress and thinking ability change during different phases of the menstrual cycle?

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Mental stress refers to change in psycho-physiological state that people experience during demanding cognitive activity. The Hypothalamo-Pituitary Adrenal axis reactivity shifts during the adolescent period resulting in stress induced hormonal responses. Stress and cognitive function varies during different phases of menstrual cycle. Hence this study was chosen to find the relation between stress and cognition during different phases of menstrual cycle among adolescent females. AIM: To compare the stress and cognition during different phases of menstrual cycle among adolescent females. METHODOLOGY: After getting institutional ethical committee clearance the tests were carried out in the department of Physiology, SVMCH&RC, Pondicherry. Stress level with perceived stress scale and cognitive functions like Digit symbol substitution test ,Letter digit substitution test , Mini mental status examination , Wechsler memory scale revised , reaction time and critical flicker fusion frequency were determined during the two phases of menstrual cycle among the female volunteers with regular menstrual cycle (n=30). RESULTS : Stress was decreased (p=0.29) in the proliferative phase compared to the premenstrual phase. Cognition was decreased in the premenstrual phase compared to proliferative phase but was not statistically significant. Simple reaction time (p=0.29), choice reaction time (p=0.25) were decreased and CFFF (p=0.24) increased in the proliferative phase compared to premenstrual phase. CONCLUSION : Increase in stress in the premenstrual period is associated with decrease in the cognition among the female adolescents. Thus apart from scholastic activities extra- curricular activities like music, YOGA, dance and physical training can be encouraged to decrease their stress level.

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