---
title: Do stress responses and mood change across the menstrual cycle?
description: Yes. Women's stress response is strongest in the second half of the cycle. Negative mood is more common in the second half and during menstruation.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/psychoneuroendocrine-stress-responses-and-mood-as-related-to-the-menstrual-cycle-1985/
---

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- Do stress responses and mood change across the menstrual cycle?

Study, 1985

# Do stress responses and mood change across the menstrual cycle?

Yes. Women's stress response is strongest in the second half of the cycle. Negative mood is more common in the second half and during menstruation.

 Moderate study design

Women with normal ovulatory menstrual cycles (specific number not stated)

## What they did

Women with normal cycles were studied during the follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases of two consecutive menstrual cycles. Women did thinking tasks under time pressure to create stress. Blood and urine samples were taken after each session to measure hormones and stress chemicals.

## What they found

Stress chemicals in urine (adrenaline and noradrenaline) were highest in the luteal phase. Women reported more negative mood states in the luteal and menstrual phases. Positive mood was more common in the follicular and ovulatory phases.

## What it means for you

Both stress response and mood vary significantly across the menstrual cycle. The second half of the cycle shows stronger stress responses and more negative mood. This pattern held across two consecutive cycles. The study does not state the total sample size.

2

consecutive cycles studied

## About the study

Original title Psychoneuroendocrine stress responses and mood as related to the menstrual cycle Authors Collins A, Eneroth P, Landgren BM Journal Psychosomatic medicine Year 1985 Study design Study What was tested Cognitive tasks performed under time pressure Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/00006842-198511000-00002](https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-198511000-00002)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)

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