Review, 2020
How do reproductive hormones affect the brain and behavior during the menstrual cycle?
Reproductive hormones like estradiol and progesterone change significantly during the menstrual cycle and affect mood, thinking, perception, and behavior through effects on the brain. The same applies to hormones in oral contraceptives.
What they did
Literature review summarizing evidence that reproductive hormones affect the brain and behavior, and explaining the physiology of the menstrual cycle and how oral contraceptives work.
What they found
Large changes in estradiol and progesterone occur during the menstrual cycle. These changes can influence mood, thinking, perception, and motivation in both humans and laboratory animals. Oral contraceptives produce similar hormone-related effects on the brain.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle involves large hormone shifts that the brain responds to, which can affect mood and thinking. This is normal physiology. Understanding how these hormones work can help researchers study menstrual-related symptoms. This is an educational summary, not a clinical study, so it reviews general patterns rather than testing a specific treatment.
Large changes
in estradiol and progesterone during menstrual cycle
About the study
- Original title
- A brief guide to the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive use for researchers in behavioral endocrinology
- Authors
- Hampson E
- Journal
- Hormones and behavior
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- Review (no intervention tested)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104655
Topics
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