Case-control study, 2026
How do thinking, mood, and work change across the cycle in women with and without period pain?
Women with period pain experienced challenges in mood, work performance, and self-esteem that extended beyond the pain itself. Thinking and memory skills did not show clear differences between women with and without period pain.
What they did
A university research team conducted a repeated-measures study comparing thinking, mood, work performance, and self-esteem across three phases of the menstrual cycle in 79 women with painful periods and 59 women without, all aged 17 to 25.
What they found
Women with period pain reported higher pain intensity, more negative attitudes about menstruation, less body awareness, worse work performance and satisfaction, and lower self-esteem. Tests of thinking skills (attention, processing speed, and problem-solving) did not show clear differences between the groups.
What it means for you
Period pain affects women's emotions, work, and self-view, not just the pain itself. Treatment should address these wider effects, not just pain relief. A limitation is that this compared women with and without painful periods rather than testing a treatment.
79
women with painful periods
59
women without painful periods
17-25
age range
About the study
- Original title
- Neurocognitive function, psychosocial characteristics, and occupational performance across menstrual phases in young adults with and without primary dysmenorrhea
- Authors
- Karakus A, Inanc S, Akyurek G
- Journal
- European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- N/A
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2026.114965
Topics
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