Survey study, 2025
Does psychological stress change the menstrual cycle and mood?
During the early COVID-19 pandemic when there was high stress, women reported both psychological symptoms and changes to their menstrual cycles. Close to 90% of women with several psychological symptoms also had changes in their menstrual cycles.
What they did
Researchers conducted an online survey during the early COVID-19 pandemic (before vaccines were available) asking women aged 18 to 45 about their psychological symptoms and any changes to their menstrual cycles.
What they found
There was a high prevalence of new psychological symptoms. Most women reported some type of change in their menstrual cycle. Women using hormonal contraceptives reported more spotting and changes in menstrual color, while women not using hormonal contraceptives reported more changes in cycle length and menstrual odor. Women without hormonal contraceptives were more likely to develop psychological symptoms. Younger adult women were more affected by both menstrual changes and psychological symptoms. Close to 90% of women with several psychological symptoms had changes in their menstrual cycles.
What it means for you
Major stress like a pandemic can change both mood and menstrual cycles, especially in younger women. This shows how stress affects the mind and the reproductive system together. The findings are limited because they are based on what women remembered and reported during a specific stressful time.
Close to 90%
Women with psychological symptoms who had cycle changes
About the study
- Original title
- The impact of mental health and psychological stressors on menstrual cycle modulation: exploring the influence of age and hormonal contraceptives
- Authors
- Petrine JPC, Jacques LS, da Cruz Santos TM et al.
- Journal
- Archives of women's mental health
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Survey study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s00737-024-01499-1
Topics
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