---
title: Does anger get worse before your period? | Niyora
description: Yes. Anger and irritability are clearly more severe before your period across reproductive ages.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effects-of-menstrual-cycle-phases-and-reproductive-aging-stages-on-arousal-2025/
---

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- Does anger get worse before your period?

Study, 2025

# Does anger get worse before your period?

Yes. Anger and irritability are clearly more severe before your period across reproductive ages.

 Moderate study design

301 women in late reproductive years or early menopause from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study

## What they did

301 women in late reproductive years or early menopause rated how severe their anger and anxiety symptoms were each day for one complete menstrual cycle. Symptoms were rated on a scale from 1 (least severe) to 4 (most severe).

## What they found

Anger and irritability were clearly more severe in the days before the period than after. Women going through early menopause experienced more severe irritability, impatience, and feeling out of control than women in late reproductive years. Anxiety symptoms did not show a clear pattern related to the menstrual cycle.

## What it means for you

If you experience anger or irritability before your period, this is a real pattern. The study only included women in late reproductive years or transitioning to menopause, so it is unclear if this applies to women at all ages.

301

women studied

1

menstrual cycle tracked per woman

4

severity scale maximum

## About the study

Original title Effects of menstrual cycle phases and reproductive aging stages on arousal symptoms: observations from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study Authors Woods NF, Mitchell ES Journal Menopause (New York, N.Y.) Year 2025 Study design Study Participants 301 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/gme.0000000000002570](https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0000000000002570)

## 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/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[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.

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