---
title: Does anxiety sensitivity change during different parts of the menstrual cycle?
description: No, not much. Anxiety sensitivity remained relatively stable across the menstrual cycle phases tested, even in women with PTSD.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/examination-of-the-stability-of-the-anxiety-sensitivity-index-across-the-2020/
---

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- Does anxiety sensitivity change during different parts of the menstrual cycle?

Lab study, 2020

# Does anxiety sensitivity change during different parts of the menstrual cycle?

No, not much. Anxiety sensitivity remained relatively stable across the menstrual cycle phases tested, even in women with PTSD.

 Moderate study design

48 trauma-exposed women (with and without PTSD)

## What they did

Study of 48 trauma-exposed women, some with PTSD and some without. Women completed an anxiety sensitivity measure at two times: during the early follicular phase and mid-luteal phase of their cycle. The measure assessed how sensitive they were to physical, cognitive, and social symptoms of anxiety.

## What they found

Anxiety sensitivity scores remained relatively stable across the menstrual cycle phases tested. Scores for sensitivity to physical symptoms of anxiety were particularly stable.

## What it means for you

Anxiety sensitivity appears to be a stable trait that doesn't change with menstrual hormones, even in women with PTSD. This helps distinguish which aspects of anxiety are personality traits versus hormone-related. The study only measured two cycle phases, not the entire cycle.

48

Women studied

2

Menstrual cycle phases measured

## About the study

Original title Examination of the stability of the anxiety sensitivity index across the menstrual cycle in trauma-exposed women with and without PTSD Authors Nillni YI, Arditte Hall KA, Langdon KJ et al. Journal Anxiety, stress, and coping Year 2020 Study design Lab study Participants 48 Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2019.1660322](https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2019.1660322)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[PTSD and trauma](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-ptsd-trauma/)

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

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Cohort study, 2004

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