---
title: Does thinking ability change during the menstrual cycle? | Niyora
description: Seventy young women showed better thinking ability during the postmenstrual phase than during the premenstrual phase. There was no evidence of thinking proble
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cognitive-function-and-menstrual-cycle-2012/
---

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- Does thinking ability change during the menstrual cycle?

Study, 2012

# Does thinking ability change during the menstrual cycle?

Seventy young women showed better thinking ability during the postmenstrual phase than during the premenstrual phase. There was no evidence of thinking problems in either phase.

 Early or limited evidence

70 young women

## What they did

Seventy young women were tested for thinking ability during both the premenstrual and postmenstrual phases using a standard mental exam. The test measured thinking, memory, judgment, and problem-solving.

## What they found

The study showed no thinking impairment in either the premenstrual or postmenstrual phase. However, women had better thinking performance during the postmenstrual phase compared to the premenstrual phase. Higher estrogen levels during the postmenstrual phase may support thinking ability.

## What it means for you

Most women do not have thinking problems at any point in their cycle, but thinking ability may be slightly better after menstruation when estrogen is higher. This is a small study of young women only, so results may not apply to all women or older women with PMS.

70

young women tested

## About the study

Original title Cognitive Function and Menstrual Cycle Authors Sugata Jadhav, Nishant Bansod Journal International Journal of Scientific Research Year 2012 Study design Study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.15373/22778179/june2014/115](https://doi.org/10.15373/22778179/june2014/115)

## Topics

[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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