--- title: Does how the body responds to stress change during the menstrual cycle? description: Partly. Stress response is slightly different in follicular and luteal phases, and the type of stress matters. Anxiety response to mental stress was higher in url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/psychophysiological-and-neuroendocrine-responses-to-laboratory-stressors-in-2010/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does how the body responds to stress change during the menstrual cycle? Study, 2010 # Does how the body responds to stress change during the menstrual cycle? Partly. Stress response is slightly different in follicular and luteal phases, and the type of stress matters. Anxiety response to mental stress was higher in the follicular phase. Moderate study design 78 women aged 18-45 with natural menstrual cycles ## What they did 78 women aged 18-45 were tested during follicular and luteal phases of their cycle. Each woman completed two different stressful tasks: one involving listening and doing mental arithmetic (PASAT) and one involving putting their hand in ice water. Heart rate, blood pressure, a stress hormone (cortisol), and anxiety were measured during rest, stress, and recovery. ## What they found Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and cortisol varied more during the luteal phase than the follicular phase. Anxiety response was greater to the mental arithmetic task during the follicular phase. Diastolic blood pressure showed the same response in both phases and with both stressors. ## What it means for you The body's stress response may vary across the menstrual cycle, and different types of stress may be experienced differently depending on the phase. However, this was a lab study with artificial stressors, so findings may not apply to real-world stress in daily life. 78 women studied 18-45 age range in years ## About the study Original title Psychophysiological and neuroendocrine responses to laboratory stressors in women: implications of menstrual cycle phase and stressor type Authors Lustyk MK, Olson KC, Gerrish WG et al. Journal Biological psychology Year 2010 Study design Study Participants 78 What was tested Mental arithmetic and ice water stress tests during different cycle phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2009.11.003](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2009.11.003) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/) 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 Lab study, 2020 Does anxiety sensitivity change during different parts of the menstrual cycle? Review, 1999 Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder a distinct clinical disorder? Review, 2021 How does the menstrual cycle affect anxiety and PTSD symptoms? Survey study, 2015 Are menstrual problems linked to mental health issues? Survey study, 2003 Do hormone levels change during the menstrual cycle in women with depression? Cohort study, 2025 How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗