---
title: Does the brain chemical serotonin change during the menstrual cycle and cause mood changes?
description: Serotonin levels in the brain change during the menstrual cycle in a way that matches hormone changes, and these changes appear to cause many of the mood, act
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/behavioral-effects-of-cyclic-changes-in-serotonin-during-the-human-menstrual-1979/
---

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- Does the brain chemical serotonin change during the menstrual cycle and cause mood changes?

Study, 1979

# Does the brain chemical serotonin change during the menstrual cycle and cause mood changes?

Serotonin levels in the brain change during the menstrual cycle in a way that matches hormone changes, and these changes appear to cause many of the mood, activity, and pain changes that happen during the cycle.

 Early or limited evidence

General observations about menstrual cycle physiology

## What they did

This paper reviews how menstrual cycle changes in hormones affect serotonin levels and their effects on mood and behavior.

## What they found

Many cyclic changes during the menstrual cycle including temperature, depression, motor activity, and pain sensitivity closely follow changes in brain serotonin. These serotonin changes are associated with regular changes in hormone levels.

## What it means for you

Serotonin changes may explain why mood, activity, and pain change during the menstrual cycle. This is a review of ideas rather than a test of a new treatment.

## About the study

Original title Behavioral effects of cyclic changes in serotonin during the human menstrual cycle Authors Warren DE, Tedford WH Jr, Flynn WE Journal Medical hypotheses Year 1979 Study design Study What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0306-9877(79)90017-3](https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-9877(79)90017-3)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)

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