---
title: Why do women's behavior change before their period from an evolutionary perspective?
description: This paper proposes that behavioral changes before a woman's period may have evolved as part of human reproduction and possibly helped with reproductive succe
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-theoretical-proposal-for-late-luteal-phase-behavioural-changes-in-an-2009/
---

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- Why do women's behavior change before their period from an evolutionary perspective?

Interview study, 2009

# Why do women's behavior change before their period from an evolutionary perspective?

This paper proposes that behavioral changes before a woman's period may have evolved as part of human reproduction and possibly helped with reproductive success, though this is theoretical and needs more research to test.

 Early or limited evidence

Not a study of real people; a theoretical discussion

## What they did

Theoretical paper that reviews the concept of behavioral changes in the days before a period and discusses why these changes might exist from an evolutionary perspective. The author did not conduct a research study.

## What they found

The author notes that behavioral changes before a period have been described in women and some other primates, with most women showing some form of these changes. In some women, these changes are severe enough to be classified as PMDD. The author proposes that some changes may have evolved because they improved reproductive success, possibly through how they affected interactions between men and women.

## What it means for you

This is a theoretical discussion rather than a study with data. The idea that behavioral changes before a period could have evolutionary roots is interesting but not proven. The proposal is that hormonal changes during the cycle might cause brain and behavior changes that once helped with having babies. This needs research to test whether it is true.

## About the study

Original title A THEORETICAL PROPOSAL FOR LATE LUTEAL PHASE BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES IN AN EVOLUTIONARY CONTEXT Authors Amandio Vincent Vieira Journal PSYCHOLOGIA Year 2009 Study design Interview study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.2117/psysoc.2009.110](https://doi.org/10.2117/psysoc.2009.110)

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

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.

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