--- title: Does the menstrual cycle affect pain and mood in women with fibromyalgia? description: Women with fibromyalgia had more pain and negative emotions than other women. All women felt less positive emotions in the second half of the cycle, more so i url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-influences-on-pain-and-emotion-in-women-with-fibromyalgia-2004/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the menstrual cycle affect pain and mood in women with fibromyalgia? Case-control study, 2004 # Does the menstrual cycle affect pain and mood in women with fibromyalgia? Women with fibromyalgia had more pain and negative emotions than other women. All women felt less positive emotions in the second half of the cycle, more so in those with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia pain itself did not change across the cycle. Moderate study design 57 women with fibromyalgia, 20 with rheumatoid arthritis, and 48 healthy women aged 21-45 ## What they did Researchers measured pain and emotions in 57 women with fibromyalgia, 20 with rheumatoid arthritis, and 48 healthy women aged 21 to 45 during the first half (follicular) and second half (luteal) of the menstrual cycle. ## What they found Women with fibromyalgia reported more pain, menstrual symptoms, and negative emotions than the other groups. All women reported less positive emotions during the luteal phase, but this drop was more pronounced in women with fibromyalgia and those with rheumatoid arthritis than in healthy women. Fibromyalgia pain itself did not vary across the menstrual cycle. ## What it means for you In women with fibromyalgia, the menstrual cycle affects mood more than pain. The study shows associations but cannot prove cause and effect. 57 women with fibromyalgia 48 healthy controls 125 total women studied ## About the study Original title Menstrual cycle influences on pain and emotion in women with fibromyalgia Authors Alonso C, Loevinger BL, Muller D et al. Journal Journal of psychosomatic research Year 2004 Study design Case-control study What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.05.003](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.05.003) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Chronic pain and fibromyalgia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-chronic-pain/) 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 Cohort study, 2021 Does tooth sensitivity change across the menstrual cycle? Case-control study, 2015 Do women with fibromyalgia have more premenstrual syndrome and period pain than other women? Study, 2014 Do women with PMDD lose the normal ability to control pain with emotions? Survey study, 2010 Does the menstrual cycle change how emotions affect pain? Cohort study, 2025 How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it? Systematic review, 2023 What hormonal treatments have been tested for PMDD, menstrual migraine, and catamenial epilepsy? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗