Cohort study, 2016
Does genetic variation affect how women process emotions at different cycle phases?
Yes. Women with certain gene variants showed different emotional responses depending on cycle phase and oral contraceptive use, though results varied by which variant they had.
What they did
93 healthy women (49 taking oral contraceptives, 44 naturally cycling) completed tests of emotional cognition and decision-making. Naturally cycling women were tested in the early follicular phase (21 women) or mid-luteal phase (23 women).
What they found
Results varied by gene variant. Women with one gene variant gambled more in the mid-luteal phase when risk was small. Women with another gene variant gambled more in the mid-luteal phase regardless of the odds. Oral contraceptive users with a specific gene variant recognized fewer facial expressions than naturally cycling women in the mid-luteal phase with the same variant.
What it means for you
Some women may be more sensitive to hormonal changes across the cycle based on their genes. The study is small and exploratory, so larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.
93
total women
49
oral contraceptive users
44
naturally cycling women
About the study
- Original title
- Mineralocorticoid receptor haplotype moderates the effects of oral contraceptives and menstrual cycle on emotional information processing
- Authors
- Hamstra DA, de Kloet ER, Tollenaar M et al.
- Journal
- Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 93
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1177/0269881116647504
Topics
Related studies
Study, 1976
Do mood and body changes happen at the same time in the menstrual cycle?
Survey study, 2001
Does the menstrual cycle phase affect spatial ability?
Review, 2015
What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated?
Systematic review, 2014
Do estrogen and progesterone change how the brain processes emotions and decisions?
Survey study, 2025
Do menstrual problems and poor sleep affect mood and thinking in teenage girls?
Cohort study, 2025
Is the stress hormone cortisol different in women with PMDD?