--- title: Does fatigue change across the menstrual cycle, especially in women with anxiety? description: Mental fatigue increases during the high-hormone phase in healthy women, rising to levels that women with anxiety disorder experience. Physical fatigue does n url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/physical-and-mental-fatigue-across-the-menstrual-cycle-in-women-with-and-without-2020/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does fatigue change across the menstrual cycle, especially in women with anxiety? Case-control study, 2020 # Does fatigue change across the menstrual cycle, especially in women with anxiety? Mental fatigue increases during the high-hormone phase in healthy women, rising to levels that women with anxiety disorder experience. Physical fatigue does not change, and hormone levels alone do not explain fatigue. Moderate study design 18 women with generalized anxiety disorder and 20 healthy women ## What they did Case-control study comparing 18 women with generalized anxiety disorder and 20 healthy women. Researchers measured physical and mental fatigue during the low-hormone (follicular) and high-hormone (luteal) phases of one menstrual cycle, while tracking sleep disruption. ## What they found Women with anxiety reported greater physical and mental fatigue overall than healthy women. Physical fatigue did not change across cycle phases in either group. Mental fatigue in healthy women increased from the follicular to luteal phase, reaching levels similar to women with anxiety. Estradiol and progesterone increased as expected, but hormones did not significantly predict fatigue. ## What it means for you The menstrual cycle affects mental (but not physical) fatigue in healthy women, creating a vulnerable period when emotional energy drops. This may explain why women with anxiety see their symptoms worsen around their period. A limitation is that only one cycle was tracked per person, and hormones alone do not explain fatigue. 18 Women with generalized anxiety disorder 20 Healthy women 1 Menstrual cycles tracked per person ## About the study Original title Physical and mental fatigue across the menstrual cycle in women with and without generalised anxiety disorder Authors Li SH, Lloyd AR, Graham BM Journal Hormones and behavior Year 2020 Study design Case-control study Participants 20 What was tested Comparison of fatigue during cycle phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104667](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104667) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Mood swings and emotion regulation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-emotional-regulation/)[Fatigue and energy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-fatigue/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2026 Can changing your diet help with period and PMS symptoms like fatigue, mood swings and bloating? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2025 How do personality traits like neuroticism affect PMS severity and sexual satisfaction? Cohort study, 2024 How does sleep change across your menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2022 How common are premenstrual symptoms, and do they change with age? Survey study, 2021 Does the menstrual cycle affect women's ability to train and compete? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗