Cohort study, 2003
Do women with bipolar disorder experience mood changes across their menstrual cycle?
Yes. Most women with bipolar disorder taking medication reported significant mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle, and most also had unusually long menstrual cycles. However, the study was very small.
What they did
A 3-month study with 17 women with bipolar disorder who were taking medication. Women entered their mood, menstrual data, and medications daily into a computer program.
What they found
65% of women reported significant mood changes across the menstrual cycle. 59% had long menstrual cycles, including those taking oral contraceptives.
What it means for you
Women with bipolar disorder may experience menstrual cycle-linked mood changes even when medicated. The very small sample and lack of a comparison group mean we cannot be sure how common this is in all women with bipolar disorder.
65%
Reported significant mood changes across menstrual cycle
59%
Had long menstrual cycles
17
Total number of women
About the study
- Original title
- Menstrual cycle related mood changes in women with bipolar disorder
- Authors
- Rasgon N, Bauer M, Glenn T et al.
- Journal
- Bipolar disorders
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 17
- What was tested
- None (observational study)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1034/j.1399-5618.2003.00010.x
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2022
Do mental health disorders get worse during the menstrual cycle?
Systematic review, 2019
Do lithium and valproate levels change during the menstrual cycle?
Case-control study, 2015
Does lamotrigine reduce menstrual cycle-related mood changes in women with bipolar disorder?
Study, 2026
Could early stress or past trauma make PMDD symptoms worse later in the cycle?
Case report, 2025
Can birth control medication help menstrual cycle-related psychosis?
Study, 2024
Can PMDD cause psychosis that returns with each menstrual cycle?