---
title: Can women with PMS read facial expressions during their menstrual cycle?
description: Women with PMS had significantly impaired ability to interpret facial expressions during the premenstrual phase compared to healthy women.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/impaired-reception-of-nonverbal-cues-in-women-with-premenstrual-tension-syndrome-1988/
---

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- Can women with PMS read facial expressions during their menstrual cycle?

Case-control study, 1988

# Can women with PMS read facial expressions during their menstrual cycle?

Women with PMS had significantly impaired ability to interpret facial expressions during the premenstrual phase compared to healthy women.

 Early or limited evidence

30 white, middle-class women (15 with PMS, 15 controls)

## What they did

The researchers tested 30 women (15 with PMS and 15 age-matched controls) who were shown videotapes of facial expressions. They compared the PMS women's responses before and after their period.

## What they found

Interpretive ability fluctuated during the menstrual cycle and was significantly impaired during the premenstrual phase in women with PMS compared to controls.

## What it means for you

Women with PMS may have trouble reading facial expressions during their premenstrual phase, which could affect social interactions. The study was small and only included white, middle-class women, so results may not apply to all groups.

30

women studied

15

women with PMS

15

control women

## About the study

Original title Impaired reception of nonverbal cues in women with premenstrual tension syndrome Authors Giannini AJ, Sorger LG, Martin DM et al. Journal The Journal of psychology Year 1988 Study design Case-control study Participants 15 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1988.9915533](https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1988.9915533)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)

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