Survey study, 2008
Do women's personality traits change across their menstrual cycle?
According to related studies, femininity stays the same across the cycle, but women are more assertive and dominant during their fertile period. This might relate to hormones.
What they did
This is a review of several research studies that looked at how menstrual cycle hormones affect women's personality traits and behavior related to attractiveness and reproduction.
What they found
The studies showed: femininity does not change across the menstrual cycle, whereas women are most assertive and dominant during the fertile period (when they can become pregnant). Only assertiveness (not femininity) relates to changes in how women think about space and direction. Women with different levels of these traits report different levels of how attractive they feel and their reproductive value.
What it means for you
During the part of the menstrual cycle when pregnancy is possible, women may naturally become more assertive. How attractive a woman feels may depend on both feminine and masculine qualities. The main limit is this describes theories from past research rather than new findings specifically about PMS or PMDD symptoms.
About the study
- Original title
- Femininity and masculinity across the menstrual cycle: a relation to mate value
- Authors
- Hromatko I, Tadinac M, Vranić A
- Journal
- Collegium antropologicum
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None; this reviews past research rather than testing something new
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18405063/