---
title: Does the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle affect mood and brain function?
description: Yes. In the luteal phase, women showed slower word-finding, lower mood scores, and changes in stress hormone levels, though reaction times were faster.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effects-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-mood-neurocognitive-and-neuroendocrine-2004/
---

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- Does the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle affect mood and brain function?

Randomised trial, 2004

# Does the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle affect mood and brain function?

Yes. In the luteal phase, women showed slower word-finding, lower mood scores, and changes in stress hormone levels, though reaction times were faster.

 Moderate study design

15 healthy premenopausal women with no psychiatric history

## What they did

Fifteen healthy women without psychiatric history were tested twice in a randomized crossover study: once during the follicular phase and once during the luteal phase. Researchers measured mood, brain function, and stress hormones.

## What they found

Compared to the follicular phase, the luteal phase had impaired word-finding, faster reaction times on a task, lower hedonic mood scores, and lower cortisol and DHEA hormone levels.

## What it means for you

The luteal phase involves measurable changes in brain function and stress hormones, which may explain PMS-related mood changes. The sample was small and only included healthy women, so it is unclear if results apply to women with PMS.

15

Healthy women studied

2

Menstrual cycle phases tested

## About the study

Original title Effects of the menstrual cycle on mood, neurocognitive and neuroendocrine function in healthy premenopausal women Authors Symonds CS, Gallagher P, Thompson JM et al. Journal Psychological medicine Year 2004 Study design Randomised trial What was tested No intervention; observation of natural menstrual cycle phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1017/s0033291703008535](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291703008535)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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