Menstruation does not affect brain functioning, says study

While people tend to assume that anyone who is menstruating is not working at top mental pitch, new research has found evidence to suggest that that is not actually the case. Although there might be individual exceptions, women's cognitive performance is in general not disturbed by hormonal changes occurring with the menstrual cycle," said lead researcher Brigitte Leeners from University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland. The researchers examined three aspects of cognition across two menstrual cycles, and found that the levels of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone in your system have no impact on your working memory, cognitive bias or ability to pay attention to two things at once. "As a specialist in reproductive medicine and a psychotherapist, I deal with many women who have the impression that the menstrual cycle influences their well-being and cognitive performance," Leeners said. The team recruited 68 women to undergo detailed monitoring to investigate changes in three selected cognitive processes at different stages in the menstrual cycle.