---
title: Does the stage of your menstrual cycle change your balance? | Niyora
description: Yes, this small study found balance and postural control were slightly worse before ovulation and improved after ovulation.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/does-phase-of-the-menstrual-cycle-affect-balance-and-postural-control-2024/
---

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- Does the stage of your menstrual cycle change your balance?

Survey study, 2024

# Does the stage of your menstrual cycle change your balance?

Yes, this small study found balance and postural control were slightly worse before ovulation and improved after ovulation.

 Early or limited evidence

63 volunteer women

## What they did

Researchers studied 63 women. They tracked cycles with ovulation kits and questionnaires on cycle regularity, PMS, attitudes to periods, and activity level. Balance and postural sway were measured twice with special balance-testing machines, once before ovulation and once after ovulation.

## What they found

After ovulation, weight-bearing on the non-dominant leg went up by 3% and on the dominant leg went down by 2.5% (both p = 0.01). Functional reach distance (a balance measure) increased by 8% after ovulation. Two other measures did not change significantly (p = 0.35 and p = 0.18).

## What it means for you

Balance may be a bit less steady in the days before ovulation and improve afterward, but this was a small, one-time comparison with no treatment tested, so it cannot prove the cycle alone causes this or whether it matters for daily life.

63

Participants

8%

Increase in functional reach after ovulation

+3% (p=0.01)

Change in weight-bearing, non-dominant leg

## About the study

Original title Does Phase of the Menstrual Cycle Affect Balance and Postural Control? Authors Elvan A, Kirişçi S, Başer Seçer M et al. Journal Journal of motor behavior Year 2024 Study design Survey study Participants 63 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/00222895.2023.2241403](https://doi.org/10.1080/00222895.2023.2241403)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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