--- title: How do thinking, mood, and work change across the cycle in women with and without period pain? description: Women with period pain experienced challenges in mood, work performance, and self-esteem that extended beyond the pain itself. Thinking and memory skills did url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/neurocognitive-function-psychosocial-characteristics-and-occupational-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How do thinking, mood, and work change across the cycle in women with and without period pain? Case-control study, 2026 # How do thinking, mood, and work change across the cycle in women with and without period pain? Women with period pain experienced challenges in mood, work performance, and self-esteem that extended beyond the pain itself. Thinking and memory skills did not show clear differences between women with and without period pain. Moderate study design 79 women with painful periods and 59 without, aged 17-25 ## What they did A university research team conducted a repeated-measures study comparing thinking, mood, work performance, and self-esteem across three phases of the menstrual cycle in 79 women with painful periods and 59 women without, all aged 17 to 25. ## What they found Women with period pain reported higher pain intensity, more negative attitudes about menstruation, less body awareness, worse work performance and satisfaction, and lower self-esteem. Tests of thinking skills (attention, processing speed, and problem-solving) did not show clear differences between the groups. ## What it means for you Period pain affects women's emotions, work, and self-view, not just the pain itself. Treatment should address these wider effects, not just pain relief. A limitation is that this compared women with and without painful periods rather than testing a treatment. 79 women with painful periods 59 women without painful periods 17-25 age range ## About the study Original title Neurocognitive function, psychosocial characteristics, and occupational performance across menstrual phases in young adults with and without primary dysmenorrhea Authors Karakus A, Inanc S, Akyurek G Journal European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology Year 2026 Study design Case-control study What was tested N/A Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2026.114965](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2026.114965) ## Topics [Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) 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 Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Survey study, 2025 Does menstruation affect how well women perform at work? Case-control study, 2002 Does mercury exposure at work affect period pain and menstrual symptoms? Survey study, 2017 Can diet help with PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2005 What are the main symptoms and impacts of severe period pain in teenage girls? Survey study, 1998 How common is PMS in women of reproductive age and what factors increase the risk? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗