--- title: Does pregnancy or the menstrual cycle affect OCD symptoms? | Niyora description: Some women's OCD worsened before their period (42 percent) and after childbirth (29 percent), suggesting hormones may play a role. However, most women's OCD d url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-in-pregnancy-the-puerperium-and-the-premenstruum-1997/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does pregnancy or the menstrual cycle affect OCD symptoms? Survey study, 1997 # Does pregnancy or the menstrual cycle affect OCD symptoms? Some women's OCD worsened before their period (42 percent) and after childbirth (29 percent), suggesting hormones may play a role. However, most women's OCD did not change during pregnancy itself (69 percent had no change). Early or limited evidence 57 women with OCD ## What they did 57 women with OCD were interviewed by telephone about how their OCD symptoms changed during the premenstrual phase, during pregnancy, and after childbirth. ## What they found 24 women (42 percent) reported their OCD worsened before their period, and 12 (21 percent) described premenstrual dysphoria. Of 38 women who had been pregnant, only 5 (13 percent) had OCD start during pregnancy. Of 29 women with OCD before pregnancy, 20 (69 percent) had no change in symptoms during pregnancy, 5 (17 percent) worsened, and 4 (14 percent) improved. Of 24 women with preexisting OCD who delivered a baby, 7 (29 percent) had worsening after birth. Nine (37 percent) of these 24 also reported postpartum depression. ## What it means for you Some women with OCD experience worsening before their period and after delivery, which suggests hormones may influence the condition. Women with OCD may be at higher risk for postpartum depression. The study was limited because women were asked to recall their symptoms rather than report them at the time they occurred. 57 women with OCD 24 (42%) premenstrual worsening 7 (29%) postpartum exacerbation ## About the study Original title Obsessive-compulsive disorder in pregnancy, the puerperium, and the premenstruum Authors Williams KE, Koran LM Journal The Journal of clinical psychiatry Year 1997 Study design Survey study Participants 57 Read the paper [doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v58n0709](https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v58n0709) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/) 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 Review, 2002 What are the reproductive-related mood disorders and how are they connected? Survey study, 2006 Does the menstrual cycle affect how severe OCD symptoms are? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Guideline, 2006 What is the best treatment for PMDD and severe PMS? Review, 2001 What is the best treatment for depression and anxiety disorders, including PMDD? Case-control study, 2025 Do certain hormone-related brain chemicals predict how bad premenstrual depression and anxiety will be? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗