Case-control study, 2019
Does multiple sclerosis get worse before your period?
Yes. Both cognitive function and physical ability appear to worsen in the premenstrual phase compared to ovulation in people with MS, more so than in healthy people.
What they did
Case-control study of 44 people with MS and 14 healthy controls. Over two consecutive menstrual cycles, they measured cognitive and physical function during the premenstrual phase and ovulation phase, and measured sex hormone levels.
What they found
People with MS performed worse than healthy controls in all measurements. Both groups showed worse cognition in the premenstrual phase than at ovulation, which was more obvious in the MS group. People with MS treated with immunomodulatory agents had better cognitive function than those not treated.
What it means for you
Cognitive and physical function appear to worsen before the period in people with MS. Main limitation: only two menstrual cycles tested in a small sample.
44
People with MS
14
Healthy controls
2
Menstrual cycles studied
About the study
- Original title
- Effect of hormonal changes on the neurological status in the menstrual cycle of patient with multiple sclerosis
- Authors
- Guven Yorgun Y, Ozakbas S
- Journal
- Clinical neurology and neurosurgery
- Year
- 2019
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 44
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.clineuro.2019.105499
Topics
Related studies
Randomised trial, 2024
Does estradiol prevent thinking problems before the period in women with suicidal thoughts?
Study, 2025
Do ADHD symptoms get worse in the week before your period?
Cohort study, 2024
Does the tendency to ruminate make PMS mood swings worse?
Randomised trial, 2022
Do hormone pills prevent suicidal thoughts from getting worse around menstruation?
Study, 2012
Does anxiety sensitivity affect panic symptoms differently at different menstrual cycle phases?
Case-control study, 2012
Do women with PMDD have working memory problems linked to concentration and irritability?