---
title: Are stomach symptoms worse before your period and linked to mood?
description: Yes. Digestive symptoms like bloating and constipation are much more common in the week before menstruation in women with and without PMS. These symptoms are
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/mood-symptoms-and-gut-function-across-the-menstrual-cycle-in-individuals-with-2024/
---

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- Are stomach symptoms worse before your period and linked to mood?

Case-control study, 2024

# Are stomach symptoms worse before your period and linked to mood?

Yes. Digestive symptoms like bloating and constipation are much more common in the week before menstruation in women with and without PMS. These symptoms are linked to worsening mood in both groups.

 Strong study design

32,241 women: 27,897 without PMS and 4,344 with PMS

## What they did

Large study using menstrual tracking app data. Researchers analyzed 33,628 menstrual cycles from 32,241 participants. Groups included 27,897 without PMS and 4,344 with PMS. They tracked digestive symptoms and mood across cycle phases.

## What they found

Gastrointestinal symptoms were reported significantly more often in the luteal phase than the follicular phase in both groups (p < 0.001). Mood symptoms were significantly positively associated with GI symptoms in both groups during both cycle phases (p < 0.001). As many as 73% of menstruating people experience digestive symptoms before menses. PMS affects roughly 20% of menstruators.

## What it means for you

Digestive problems before your period are extremely common and linked to mood changes in most women, not just those with PMS. Study participants used an app to track symptoms, which is convenient but people may not report accurately every cycle. More research is needed on why mood and digestive symptoms go together.

32241

Total participants

73%

With digestive symptoms

20%

With PMS

## About the study

Original title Mood symptoms and gut function across the menstrual cycle in individuals with premenstrual syndrome Authors Hannan K, Li X, Mehta A et al. Journal Hormones and behavior Year 2024 Study design Case-control study Participants 27,897 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105634](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105634)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Apps and digital interventions](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-digital-health/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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