Study, 1985
Do stress responses and mood change across the menstrual cycle?
Yes. Women's stress response is strongest in the second half of the cycle. Negative mood is more common in the second half and during menstruation.
What they did
Women with normal cycles were studied during the follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases of two consecutive menstrual cycles. Women did thinking tasks under time pressure to create stress. Blood and urine samples were taken after each session to measure hormones and stress chemicals.
What they found
Stress chemicals in urine (adrenaline and noradrenaline) were highest in the luteal phase. Women reported more negative mood states in the luteal and menstrual phases. Positive mood was more common in the follicular and ovulatory phases.
What it means for you
Both stress response and mood vary significantly across the menstrual cycle. The second half of the cycle shows stronger stress responses and more negative mood. This pattern held across two consecutive cycles. The study does not state the total sample size.
2
consecutive cycles studied
About the study
- Original title
- Psychoneuroendocrine stress responses and mood as related to the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Collins A, Eneroth P, Landgren BM
- Journal
- Psychosomatic medicine
- Year
- 1985
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Cognitive tasks performed under time pressure
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/00006842-198511000-00002
Topics
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