---
title: Does stress affect the menstrual cycle? | Niyora
description: Over 2 years, women whose stress increased significantly had shorter cycles and shorter bleeds, while women with stable stress had longer cycles. A one-year s
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/association-between-psychological-stress-and-menstrual-cycle-characteristics-in-2004/
---

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- Does stress affect the menstrual cycle?

Cohort study, 2004

# Does stress affect the menstrual cycle?

Over 2 years, women whose stress increased significantly had shorter cycles and shorter bleeds, while women with stable stress had longer cycles. A one-year snapshot showed no link.

 Moderate study design

Perimenopausal women in the Tremin Research Program.

## What they did

Researchers tracked menstrual bleeding patterns and stressful life events in perimenopausal women from the Tremin Research Program. They analyzed data from one year and then looked at the same women over 2 years, grouping them by changes in stress level.

## What they found

One year (206 women): no link between stress and cycle length or bleed duration. Over 2 years: women with marked stress increases (n=30) had cycles 0.2 days shorter and bleeds 0.1 day shorter, while women with stable stress (n=103) had cycles 2.9 days longer and bleeds 0.3 days longer (p < .05).

## What it means for you

This study followed perimenopausal women, so findings may not apply to younger women with PMS. The actual cycle changes were very small (less than one day). The different results between one year and two years suggest the relationship between stress and cycles is complex.

206

Women in one-year analysis

0.2 days

Shorter cycles in stressed group

2.9 days

Longer cycles in stable-stress group

## About the study

Original title Association between psychological stress and menstrual cycle characteristics in perimenopausal women Authors Barsom SH, Mansfield PK, Koch PB et al. Journal Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health Year 2004 Study design Cohort study Participants 103 What was tested No intervention; stress and cycle characteristics were observed. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2004.07.006](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2004.07.006)

## Topics

[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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