---
title: Do hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle cause mood changes in healthy women?
description: In healthy young women, hormone changes do not cause marked mood changes. Physical symptoms like breast tenderness and abdominal pain do occur, particularly b
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/mood-changes-and-physical-complaints-during-the-normal-menstrual-cycle-in-1990/
---

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- Do hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle cause mood changes in healthy women?

Survey study, 1990

# Do hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle cause mood changes in healthy women?

In healthy young women, hormone changes do not cause marked mood changes. Physical symptoms like breast tenderness and abdominal pain do occur, particularly before and during menstruation.

 Early or limited evidence

30 healthy young women

## What they did

Researchers tracked 30 healthy young women through their menstrual cycles. They took blood samples at least three times per week to measure estrogen and progesterone. Women rated their mood and physical symptoms every day.

## What they found

No significant changes in mood or depression across the cycle. Abdominal pain and breast tenderness were significantly linked to the luteal, premenstrual, and menstrual phases. Appetite increased in the periovulatory and premenstrual phases. Sexual interest tended to be highest after menstruation. Mood was not linked to hormone levels but was linked to stress levels.

## What it means for you

For healthy young women, hormone changes alone do not cause mood problems. Physical symptoms are real and link to specific cycle phases. Stress seems more important than hormones for mood. The study is small (30 women) and only included healthy women with normal cycles.

30

women studied

3+ per week

blood samples taken

## About the study

Original title Mood changes and physical complaints during the normal menstrual cycle in healthy young women Authors Laessle RG, Tuschl RJ, Schweiger U et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 1990 Study design Survey study Participants 30 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(90)90021-z](https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(90)90021-z)

## 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/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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