---
title: Does the menstrual cycle affect how fast women think and react?
description: Women using oral contraceptives reacted noticeably slower than women not using contraceptives during their menstrual and premenstrual phases. The cycle's effe
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-menstrual-cycle-from-a-bio-behavioral-approach-a-comparison-of-oral-1984/
---

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- Does the menstrual cycle affect how fast women think and react?

Study, 1984

# Does the menstrual cycle affect how fast women think and react?

Women using oral contraceptives reacted noticeably slower than women not using contraceptives during their menstrual and premenstrual phases. The cycle's effects on thinking speed varied between the first and second menstrual cycles studied.

 Early or limited evidence

8 women (4 with normal menstrual cycles, 4 using oral contraceptives)

## What they did

8 women (4 with normal menstrual cycles and 4 using oral contraceptives) were tracked weekly for 2 menstrual cycles. Researchers measured blood pressure, heart rate, skin temperature, pulse amplitude, and how quickly women reacted to verbal tasks.

## What they found

Women using oral contraceptives reacted slower than women not using contraceptives during their menstrual and premenstrual phases. In the first cycle, all women reacted slower during their menstrual and ovulatory phases, but this pattern did not appear in the second cycle. During the postovulatory phase of the second cycle, women not using contraceptives showed a much greater increase in skin temperature than women using contraceptives.

## What it means for you

The menstrual cycle appears to affect how quickly women think and react, and oral contraceptives may change these effects. However, the effects differed between cycles, suggesting they are complex. Limited by very small sample size (only 8 women) and short duration of tracking.

8

women total

4

women using oral contraceptives

2

menstrual cycles tracked

## About the study

Original title The menstrual cycle from a bio-behavioral approach: a comparison of oral contraceptive and non-contraceptive users Authors Garrett KF, Elder ST Journal International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology Year 1984 Study design Study What was tested Comparison of oral contraceptive users and non-users Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0167-8760(84)90039-4](https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-8760(84)90039-4)

## Topics

[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)

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