---
title: Does the link between cortisol and feeling stressed change during the menstrual cycle?
description: Yes. In the follicular phase, higher cortisol was linked with feeling less stressed afterward. In the luteal phase, higher cortisol was linked with feeling mo
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/association-between-subjective-and-cortisol-stress-response-depends-on-the-2013/
---

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- Does the link between cortisol and feeling stressed change during the menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 2013

# Does the link between cortisol and feeling stressed change during the menstrual cycle?

Yes. In the follicular phase, higher cortisol was linked with feeling less stressed afterward. In the luteal phase, higher cortisol was linked with feeling more stressed afterward. This suggests hormones change how the body's physical stress response relates to emotional experience.

 Early or limited evidence

45 women (21 in follicular phase, others in luteal phase)

## What they did

45 women in either the follicular or luteal phase of their menstrual cycle completed a stressful social task. Researchers measured their cortisol (stress hormone) levels from saliva and asked them how stressed they felt during and after the task.

## What they found

The relationship between cortisol level and subjective stress was opposite in the two cycle phases. Women in the follicular phase with higher peak cortisol reported less stress afterward, while women in the luteal phase with higher peak cortisol reported more stress afterward. This suggests hormones change how the body's stress system relates to emotional feelings.

## What it means for you

Sex hormones appear to change how the body's physical stress response (measured by cortisol) relates to a woman's emotional experience of stress. This finding is important for understanding emotional regulation changes across the cycle. However, the study was small and tested only one type of stressful task, so larger studies in different settings are needed.

45

women total

21

in follicular phase

## About the study

Original title Association between subjective and cortisol stress response depends on the menstrual cycle phase Authors Duchesne A, Pruessner JC Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2013 Study design Survey study Participants 21 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.08.009](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.08.009)

## Topics

[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)

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