---
title: Does the menstrual cycle affect how the body responds to stress?
description: Women in the luteal phase show a stronger cortisol response to laboratory stress than women in the follicular phase.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-relationship-between-the-menstrual-cycle-and-cortisol-secretion-daily-and-2018/
---

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- Does the menstrual cycle affect how the body responds to stress?

Survey study, 2018

# Does the menstrual cycle affect how the body responds to stress?

Women in the luteal phase show a stronger cortisol response to laboratory stress than women in the follicular phase.

 Early or limited evidence

42 women not on hormonal contraceptives (24 in follicular phase, 18 in luteal phase)

## What they did

42 women not on hormonal contraceptives (24 in follicular phase, 18 in luteal phase) provided saliva samples during a normal day and during a stressful virtual reality task. Researchers measured cortisol in the saliva.

## What they found

Women in the luteal phase had higher cortisol after the stress task (5.96 nmol/L) compared to women in the follicular phase (4.31 nmol/L). No other clear differences in daily cortisol patterns were found between the phases.

## What it means for you

This suggests the body's stress response may be stronger in the luteal phase, possibly due to higher progesterone. This could affect how women experience stress throughout their cycle. The main limitation is the small sample size and the stress test was in a lab, so it may not reflect everyday stress.

42

women studied

5.96

cortisol nmol/L in luteal phase after stress

4.31

cortisol nmol/L in follicular phase after stress

## About the study

Original title The relationship between the menstrual cycle and cortisol secretion: Daily and stress-invoked cortisol patterns Authors Montero-López E, Santos-Ruiz A, García-Ríos MC et al. Journal International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology Year 2018 Study design Survey study What was tested Cortisol levels measured during stress exposure Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.03.021](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.03.021)

## Topics

[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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