---
title: Does your menstrual cycle affect how often you have unwanted memories of emotional events?
description: Yes. Women in the luteal phase reported significantly more unwanted memories of emotional films than women in the follicular phase, and the number of memories
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/influences-of-menstrual-cycle-position-and-sex-hormone-levels-on-spontaneous-2011/
---

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- Does your menstrual cycle affect how often you have unwanted memories of emotional events?

Study, 2011

# Does your menstrual cycle affect how often you have unwanted memories of emotional events?

Yes. Women in the luteal phase reported significantly more unwanted memories of emotional films than women in the follicular phase, and the number of memories correlated with progesterone levels.

 Early or limited evidence

Women viewing emotional films during different menstrual cycle phases (sample size not stated)

## What they did

Women watched emotional films and reported how often they had unwanted memories afterward. Researchers measured hormone levels in their saliva to determine cycle phase and progesterone concentration.

## What they found

Women in the luteal phase reported significantly more unwanted intrusive recollections than women in the follicular phase. The frequency of unwanted memories correlated significantly with salivary progesterone levels.

## What it means for you

Higher progesterone in the luteal phase may trigger more unwanted memories of emotional events. This could help explain why conditions involving intrusive thoughts vary with the menstrual cycle. The study size is not stated in the abstract.

## About the study

Original title Influences of menstrual cycle position and sex hormone levels on spontaneous intrusive recollections following emotional stimuli Authors Ferree NK, Kamat R, Cahill L Journal Consciousness and cognition Year 2011 Study design Study What was tested Viewing emotional films Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2011.02.003](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2011.02.003)

## 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/)[PTSD and trauma](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-ptsd-trauma/)

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