--- title: Does the premenstrual phase change how the nervous system reacts to stress? description: No clear difference was found in how the nervous system reacted during the premenstrual phase compared to after menstruation. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/autonomic-reactivity-in-the-premenstrual-phase-1983/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the premenstrual phase change how the nervous system reacts to stress? Lab study, 1983 # Does the premenstrual phase change how the nervous system reacts to stress? No clear difference was found in how the nervous system reacted during the premenstrual phase compared to after menstruation. Early or limited evidence 40 women ## What they did Researchers tested 40 women twice: once premenstrually and once after menstruation. They measured nervous system responses to stress using a cold water test and mental math. They also measured how quickly the body learned a response to sound and had women rate their mood. ## What they found None of the differences between the premenstrual and post-menstrual phases were significant. Nervous system reactivity decreased from the first to the second testing session regardless of which phase of the cycle it was. Mood ratings and stimulus ratings were also similar between phases. ## What it means for you The premenstrual phase does not appear to change how your nervous system reacts to stress. The decrease in reactivity from first to second test was due to getting used to the test, not to the menstrual cycle. The study was small. 40 women studied 2 testing sessions per woman ## About the study Original title Autonomic reactivity in the premenstrual phase Authors Strauss B, Schultheiss M, Cohen R Journal The British journal of clinical psychology Year 1983 Study design Lab study Participants 40 What was tested Stress tests including cold water exposure, mental arithmetic, and auditory conditioning Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8260.1983.tb00573.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8260.1983.tb00573.x) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Randomised trial, 2026 Does mindfulness training reduce PMS symptoms and fear about childbirth? Systematic review, 2025 Is there a link between stress, trauma, and premenstrual symptoms? Randomised trial, 2025 Does caloric restriction and aerobic exercise improve PMS symptoms in obese women? Cohort study, 2025 How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it? Review, 2025 How do stress hormone levels change during the menstrual cycle and how does this affect health? Randomised trial, 2024 Does curcumin reduce depression, anxiety, and stress in women with PMS and dysmenorrhea? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗