--- title: Do genes related to mood and stress change during the menstrual cycle? description: One stress-related gene (FKBP5) showed lower activity in the follicular phase compared to other phases. Anxiety scores also changed during the cycle, but thes url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/fkbp5-sert-and-comt-mrna-expressions-in-the-peripheral-leukocytes-during-2008/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do genes related to mood and stress change during the menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2008 # Do genes related to mood and stress change during the menstrual cycle? One stress-related gene (FKBP5) showed lower activity in the follicular phase compared to other phases. Anxiety scores also changed during the cycle, but these two changes were not connected to each other. Early or limited evidence 12 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles (average age 22.4 years) ## What they did Study that started with 38 healthy women age 22.4 years, but only 12 had regular menstrual cycles during the study period so researchers analyzed data from those 12 women. They measured gene expression and anxiety levels at three different cycle phases: menstrual, follicular, and luteal. ## What they found Anxiety scores changed significantly across the cycle phases (P<0.05). FKBP5 gene expression was significantly lower during the follicular phase than in other phases. However, there was no correlation between anxiety scores and FKBP5 expression. Two other genes studied (SERT and COMT) showed no changes across the cycle phases. ## What it means for you A stress-related gene changes during the cycle and anxiety varies across the cycle, but the gene changes may not explain the anxiety changes. The study was very small with only 12 of 38 women having regular cycles, so results may not apply broadly to all women. 12 women analyzed with regular cycles 38 women enrolled 3 cycle phases measured ## About the study Original title FKBP5, SERT and COMT mRNA expressions in the peripheral leukocytes during menstruation cycle in healthy reproductive females Authors Kinouchi S, Iga J, Ueno S et al. Journal Neuroscience letters Year 2008 Study design Survey study Participants 12 What was tested None; observational measurements at three cycle phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2008.01.039](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2008.01.039) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/) 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 Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Cohort study, 2012 How quickly does fluoxetine start working for PMDD symptoms? Review, 1999 Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder a distinct clinical disorder? Randomised trial, 2020 How should premenstrual syndrome be diagnosed and treated? Survey study, 2008 Do healthy women without PMDD have mood changes during their menstrual cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗