--- title: Do women with PMS or menstrual migraine respond differently to stress? description: Women with PMS or menstrual migraine responded normally to a stress test, but had higher baseline blood pressure and overall arousal before and after the test url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cardiovascular-response-to-cognitive-stress-in-subjects-with-menstrually-related-1997/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMS or menstrual migraine respond differently to stress? Survey study, 1997 # Do women with PMS or menstrual migraine respond differently to stress? Women with PMS or menstrual migraine responded normally to a stress test, but had higher baseline blood pressure and overall arousal before and after the test. Early or limited evidence 19 women with menstrually related disorders (8 with PMS, 11 with menstrual migraine) and 11 healthy controls ## What they did Comparison of 19 women with menstrually related disorders (8 with PMS, 11 with menstrual migraine) and 11 healthy controls. During the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle, all participants completed a cognitive stress test (Stroop Color Word test) while researchers measured heart rate and blood pressure. ## What they found Both groups showed increased blood pressure and heart rate during the stress test. Women with menstrually related disorders had higher baseline diastolic blood pressure before testing and higher blood pressure during testing compared to controls. The magnitude of the blood pressure and heart rate increase during stress was similar between the two groups. ## What it means for you Women with PMS or menstrual migraine may experience higher baseline stress arousal but respond to acute stress normally. They may have more difficulty handling new situations. The study was small and only measured during one phase of the cycle. 19 women with menstrually related disorders 8 with PMS 11 healthy controls ## About the study Original title Cardiovascular response to cognitive stress in subjects with menstrually related disorders Authors Tarabusi M, Caputo AS, Volpe A et al. Journal Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache Year 1997 Study design Survey study Participants 19 What was tested Cognitive stress test (Stroop Color Word test) during the luteal phase Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/0333102497017s2001](https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102497017s2001) Original abstract We measured reactivity to a stress paradigm during the premenstrual period in 19 women affected by Menstrually Related Disorders (MRD) and in 11 normal controls. Eight had premenstrual syndrome diagnosed by the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire and 11 suffered menstrual migraine, diagnosed according to International Headache Society criteria. Subjects were observed during two menstrual cycles and submitted to a psychocognitive test (Stroop Color Word) during the luteal phase. In both groups the stimulation by Stroop C-W was present for systolic blood pressure (SBP) (F = 18.14, p = 0.000), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (F = 9.56, p = 0.000), and heart rate (F = 12.80, p = 0.000). Moreover, an interaction of response by group was present for DBP (2.58, p = 0.04); DBP values were higher in MRD subjects. Also baseline DBP values were higher in MRD with respect to controls. Area under the curve (AUC) subtracted from baseline for the SBP, DBP and heart rate did not differ between groups. In conclusion, MRD subjects facing a cognitive stress had normal cardiovascular response. However, patients had increased arousal of cardiovascular measures before and after testing. The significant differences during stress of testing were dissociated from those of experimental stress stimulation. MRD subjects may have less ability to cope with novelty than healthy volunteers. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/) 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. ## Related studies Survey study, 2025 Do menstrual problems and poor sleep affect mood and thinking in teenage girls? Cohort study, 2025 Do pain sensitivity and negative thinking explain how trauma and stress cause PMS or PMDD? Cohort study, 2025 What causes migraine in female college students who have PMS? Case-control study, 2014 Does past abuse affect pain sensitivity differently in women with menstrual mood disorders? Study, 2008 What triggers migraine headaches in people? Study, 1976 Do mood and body changes happen at the same time in the menstrual cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗