--- title: Do hormone levels during the menstrual cycle affect visual memory? description: Hormone levels do not clearly affect how well women remember visual information. Age was more important than hormones. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/exploring-the-role-of-sex-sex-steroids-menstrual-cycle-and-hormonal-2025/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do hormone levels during the menstrual cycle affect visual memory? Survey study, 2025 # Do hormone levels during the menstrual cycle affect visual memory? Hormone levels do not clearly affect how well women remember visual information. Age was more important than hormones. Early or limited evidence 165 adults aged 18-35 (32 men, 133 women) in four female groups ## What they did 32 men and 133 women aged 18-35 completed a visual memory test where they detected image changes. Four groups of women were tested: naturally cycling early follicular (n=33), naturally cycling mid-luteal (n=35), oral contraceptive users (n=37), and intrauterine device users (n=28). Brain activity and saliva hormone levels were measured. ## What they found There were no clear differences in visual memory performance or brain activity between any groups, and hormone levels did not correlate with performance. One exception: naturally cycling women in the early follicular phase performed slightly worse than contraceptive users when remembering four items. Age was significant. Older participants performed worse. Different age-related patterns appeared in men and women and across different hormone status groups. ## What it means for you Sex hormones may not directly affect visual working memory, though age and hormonal contraception may influence how memory changes with age. The study tested only one specific memory task, which may not reflect other types of thinking or real-world situations. 165 total participants 18-35 years age range 133 women tested ## About the study Original title Exploring the role of sex, sex steroids, menstrual cycle, and hormonal contraception use in visual working memory: Insights from behavioral and EEG analyses Authors Gaižauskaitė R, Gladutytė L, Zelionkaitė I et al. Journal International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology Year 2025 Study design Survey study Participants 37 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2025.112520](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2025.112520) ## Topics [Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2013 Does stress before learning affect memory differently based on sex and menstrual cycle phase? Review, 2026 What should doctors know about PMS and PMDD in teenagers? Survey study, 2010 Does sexual interest change across the cycle and what role do pain, sleep and hormones play? Cohort study, 2006 How should severe period pain in teenagers be treated? Cohort study, 2026 Does sleeping longer improve mood and fitness in elite athletes? Randomised trial, 2025 Does mood, well-being, and sexual function change across the menstrual cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗