---
title: Should doctors ask women about how their menstrual cycle affects their emotions and behavior?
description: Yes. Many women experience different feelings and ways of being during different times of their menstrual cycle, but this has been largely ignored by mental h
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-menstrual-cycle-as-a-subject-of-psychoanalytic-inquiry-2010/
---

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- Should doctors ask women about how their menstrual cycle affects their emotions and behavior?

Study, 2010

# Should doctors ask women about how their menstrual cycle affects their emotions and behavior?

Yes. Many women experience different feelings and ways of being during different times of their menstrual cycle, but this has been largely ignored by mental health professionals. Asking women about their menstrual experience can help them understand and accept themselves.

 Early or limited evidence

Not a study of a specific group—this is a literature review and opinion piece

## What they did

The authors reviewed psychoanalytic literature and noted how the field has largely ignored the connection between hormones and mental health. They discuss why this happened and argue that it should be studied.

## What they found

Mental health professionals have not paid attention to how the menstrual cycle affects women's emotions and behavior. This avoidance is based in sexism and concern that mentioning hormones would lead to negative views of women. However, many women experience different versions of themselves during different phases of their menstrual cycle.

## What it means for you

Doctors and mental health professionals should recognize that the menstrual cycle affects emotions and behavior and should ask women about their menstrual experience. This can help women understand themselves better. The main limitation is that this is an opinion piece based on existing literature, not new research data.

1939

year of pioneering studies on menstrual cycle and the mind

## About the study

Original title The menstrual cycle as a subject of psychoanalytic inquiry Authors Kolod S Journal The journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry Year 2010 Study design Study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1521/jaap.2010.38.1.77](https://doi.org/10.1521/jaap.2010.38.1.77)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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