Study, 1979
Does the brain chemical serotonin change during the menstrual cycle and cause mood changes?
Serotonin levels in the brain change during the menstrual cycle in a way that matches hormone changes, and these changes appear to cause many of the mood, activity, and pain changes that happen during the cycle.
What they did
This paper reviews how menstrual cycle changes in hormones affect serotonin levels and their effects on mood and behavior.
What they found
Many cyclic changes during the menstrual cycle including temperature, depression, motor activity, and pain sensitivity closely follow changes in brain serotonin. These serotonin changes are associated with regular changes in hormone levels.
What it means for you
Serotonin changes may explain why mood, activity, and pain change during the menstrual cycle. This is a review of ideas rather than a test of a new treatment.
About the study
- Original title
- Behavioral effects of cyclic changes in serotonin during the human menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Warren DE, Tedford WH Jr, Flynn WE
- Journal
- Medical hypotheses
- Year
- 1979
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0306-9877(79)90017-3
Topics
Related studies
Cohort study, 2025
How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it?
Lab study, 2026
Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD?
Study, 2026
What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?
Cohort study, 2021
Does tooth sensitivity change across the menstrual cycle?
Survey study, 2017
Does painful menstruation affect adolescent girls' mood, emotions, sleep, and thinking?
Case-control study, 2016
Why do women with PMDD experience more pain, and is their body's natural pain control system working properly?