Does Menstruation Affect Cognitive Function? What Science Says

Menstrual Cycles Don’t Affect Cognitive Abilities, Study Reveals

A comprehensive meta-analysis of over 100 studies has challenged the long-held belief that a woman's cognitive abilities fluctuate in relation to her menstrual cycle. The study, which reviewed data from nearly 4,000 menstruating women, concludes that there is no significant evidence to suggest that the menstrual cycle has any measurable impact on cognitive performance.

The Myth of ‘Period Brain’

The concept of "period brain," often associated with forgetfulness, lack of focus, or decreased cognitive performance during menstruation, has been ingrained in cultural and social narratives. However, this new research, led by organizational behaviorist Daisung Jang from the University of Melbourne, provides a compelling scientific argument against this widely accepted myth.

For years, menstruation has been blamed for a variety of cognitive issues. Whether it’s perceived brain fog, irritability, or fatigue, the menstrual cycle has often been seen as the culprit behind these so-called cognitive lapses. However, when it comes to scientific data, the story isn’t so clear-cut.

A Closer Look at the Research

The meta-analysis reviewed 102 peer-reviewed studies that measured cognitive performance during different phases of the menstrual cycle. These studies tested various cognitive functions including attention, creativity, executive function, intelligence, memory, motor skills, spatial ability, and verbal ability, across the entire menstrual cycle. The study only included data from healthy women, excluding any papers that included confounding variables such as pregnancy, infection, or hormonal disorders, ensuring the research was focused solely on typical menstruation.

Despite the well-known hormonal fluctuations that occur throughout the menstrual cycle, particularly the rise and fall of estrogen, progesterone, and luteinizing hormone, the study found no consistent or significant differences in cognitive performance across different phases of the cycle. The differences that were observed were so small and inconsistent that they were deemed statistically insignificant.

Why Do Women Feel Cognitive Changes During Menstruation?

The study authors noted that despite the physiological changes that occur across the menstrual cycle, there is little evidence to suggest that these hormonal shifts significantly affect brain function. This finding has profound implications for both medical and cultural perspectives on menstruation.

One possible explanation, as suggested by the authors, is that the brain’s ability to compensate for hormonal fluctuations is not yet fully understood. It is also possible that the effects of these hormonal changes are so subtle that they do not impact cognitive abilities in a meaningful way. Another factor could be individual differences; certain women may experience more pronounced effects than others due to differences in how their bodies respond to hormonal changes. However, such effects would be too inconsistent to form a clear, scientific trend.

Debunking Longstanding Myths

This research is particularly important in debunking the long-standing myth that women’s cognitive abilities are impaired during menstruation. The belief that women are somehow less capable of thinking clearly or making decisions while menstruating has contributed to discriminatory practices, from workplace biases to educational disparities.

The study emphasizes that "physiology does not appear to be destiny with respect to cognitive ability." Menstrual cycles do not inherently cause cognitive decline or impairment. This result not only challenges cultural myths but also helps address misconceptions that have been pervasive in society for centuries.

The Impact on Gender Discrimination

Historically, women have been marginalized due to assumptions about how their menstrual cycles might affect their capabilities. In workplaces, for example, there may be an unspoken bias that assumes women are less competent during their periods, a belief that has contributed to inequality in the workplace. The findings from this meta-analysis underscore the importance of addressing such myths, which have no scientific backing.

As the authors of the study point out, there is no scientific reason to doubt a woman’s ability to perform mentally because of her menstrual cycle. This debunks the erroneous idea that menstruation makes women "less sharp" or incapable of performing certain cognitive tasks, whether at work, in school, or elsewhere.

The Limitations of the Study

While the study presents compelling evidence that menstruation does not affect cognitive abilities on a large scale, it does not completely rule out individual variability. There may still be cases where certain women experience more significant cognitive changes during their cycle, particularly if they have underlying conditions like premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) or endometriosis. However, these are considered medical conditions that require separate treatment and should not be generalized to all women.

The study’s authors also note that the research is limited by its focus on healthy women and the exclusion of non-English papers, meaning the results may not apply to all populations. Further research may be needed to explore how hormonal fluctuations might influence cognition in individuals with certain health conditions or in diverse cultural contexts.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis significantly challenges the widely held belief that menstruation negatively affects women’s cognitive abilities. The findings suggest that the hormonal fluctuations that occur throughout the menstrual cycle do not lead to significant cognitive impairment. This research has broader implications for addressing gender biases and debunking myths about women’s capabilities during menstruation. The study provides a clear scientific basis for rejecting the idea that a woman’s cognitive performance is linked to her menstrual cycle.

Learn more: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0318576