Study, 2012
Does the menstrual cycle phase affect stress hormones and psychiatric symptoms?
This small pilot study found patterns suggesting the follicular phases may have higher mood symptoms, but the differences in stress hormone levels across the cycle were not clear enough to confirm.
What they did
This pilot study measured cortisol (a stress hormone) in young adults without psychiatric diagnoses and tracked self-reported menstrual cycle phase and psychiatric symptoms. Participants also experienced an acute stressor while researchers measured cortisol again.
What they found
Stress hormone levels were lowest during the early follicular phase, medium during the late follicular phase, and highest during the mid-luteal phase, but these differences were not significant. Psychiatric symptoms were higher in women in the early and late follicular phases compared to men and compared to the mid-luteal phase. When exposed to stress, cortisol increased across all phases and both sexes. Men reported more psychotic-like symptoms than mid-luteal women.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle may influence both stress hormones and mood, though the connections are complex. This pilot study has significant limitations including self-reported cycle phase, a small sample, and non-clinical participants, so these findings are preliminary and need to be replicated.
3
menstrual cycle phases measured
About the study
- Original title
- Biological sex and menstrual cycle phase modulation of cortisol levels and psychiatric symptoms in a non-clinical sample of young adults
- Authors
- Walder DJ, Statucka M, Daly MP et al.
- Journal
- Psychiatry research
- Year
- 2012
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Acute stressor
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2011.09.009
Topics
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