Have you ever noticed that some days require more patience or more kindness towards yourself? The menstrual cycle does not only act on the body; it also influences mood, sensitivity, and how you experience your emotions. Behind these variations are precise biological mechanisms closely linked to the nervous system. Rather than enduring these fluctuations, you can learn to better understand them. Let’s explore the link between the menstrual cycle and mood to help you better situate yourself, month after month.
How female hormones influence the nervous system and emotions
Mood variations related to the menstrual cycle are largely explained by the effect of hormones on the brain and emotional regulation. Estrogens and progesterone naturally fluctuate throughout the cycle and interact with several neurobiological systems involved in mood, stress, and emotional perception.
Assess the role of estrogens in serotonin regulation
Estradiol, the most active form of estrogen, influences several neurotransmission systems involved in emotional regulation, notably circuits related to serotonin. A scientific publication recent study describes how estradiol modulates the serotonergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic pathways of the brain, all involved in emotional and cognitive processes.
Specifically, this means that when estrogen levels change during the menstrual cycle, they can affect how certain brain messengers function. Since serotonin is associated with emotional stability, mood regulation, well-being, and sleep, these biological interactions can contribute to the variations experienced by some women.
Observe the effect of progesterone on stress sensitivity
Progesterone also acts on the brain when it is converted into allopregnanolone, a neurosteroid that modulates receptors related to stress management. This interaction is observed in different hormonal contexts, including the menstrual cycle.
That is why, when progesterone levels change during the cycle, your emotional sensitivity can fluctuate. Some women then feel more reactive or more vulnerable at certain times, especially at the end of the cycle.
👉🏼 Better understand how the sacred plants accompany you in a holistic healing process.
Identifying the impact of hormonal fluctuations on emotional balance
Beyond hormone levels, it is mainly the speed at which these levels change. Thus, when estrogen and progesterone increase or decrease rapidly, it can influence how the brain regulates emotions. Moreover, the research also show the importance of individual sensitivity to hormonal variations.
The most common symptoms related to mood and reported by women are:
● quicker irritability in response to tensions;
● increased sensitivity to remarks or conflicts;
● more pronounced emotional fatigue;
● more negative or intrusive thoughts.
Recognizing these signals allows you to better understand that your nervous system reacts to a natural hormonal dynamic, modulated by your own sensitivity to change.
👉🏼 Discover our Sacred Feminine Kit to reconnect with your natural cyclicity.
Mood fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle
Your mood manifests differently throughout the menstrual cycle: sometimes more inward, expansive, or sensitive. It expresses itself in how you react, communicate, handle pressure, or feel situations.
Without revisiting the physiological aspects already detailed in our article on the phases of the menstrual cycle, let’s observe how your emotional tone can evolve throughout the month and affect your daily life.
Experiencing menstruation in a dynamic of introspection
At the time of menstruation, estrogen and progesterone levels are at their lowest. This hormonal drop can be accompanied by an overall slowdown, both physical and emotional.
Women often then feel a need to withdraw. Mood may be more inward, less action-oriented. This is a period when overload is less tolerated and simplicity is sought more. To fully enjoy the available energy, welcome this phase as a regenerative pause before the start of the new cycle.
👉🏼 Try our Organic Maca from Peru to support hormonal balance.
Regaining clarity and stability during the follicular phase
After menstruation, estrogen begins to gradually increase, while progesterone remains low. This hormonal rise is generally accompanied by a feeling of mental and emotional renewal.
Mood usually seems more stable, more fluid. Decisions seem simpler, interactions less emotionally charged, and you may notice a sense of inner coherence. This is a phase favorable to initiatives, projects, or important conversations.
Exploring emotional openness around ovulation
Around ovulation, estrogen peaks while progesterone begins to rise. This hormonal configuration can be associated with greater relational ease. You are likely to feel more confident, communicate more spontaneously, and have energy more outwardly focused. Your mood is often more expansive and sociable.
Soothing the tendency to ruminate in the luteal phase
After ovulation, progesterone dominates then drops rapidly at the end of the cycle. This transition can change how you interpret situations.
During this temporary modulation of emotional regulation, some women describe more circular thoughts, difficulty putting things into perspective, or a more negative perception of otherwise ordinary events.
Reducing demands, postponing certain important decisions, or favoring reassuring activities can help you get through this phase with more stability.
👉🏼 Explore the benefits of passionflower to support nervous system balance.
Factors that amplify or soothe emotional variations
Hormones are not the only cause of your mood swings during the cycle. They are also closely linked to your environment, stress level, sleep, and lifestyle, which can amplify or, conversely, soften emotional fluctuations.
Regulating stress to stabilize mood
Chronic stress changes how the nervous system reacts to hormonal fluctuations. When mental load is high, emotional tolerance decreases more quickly, especially during periods of strong hormonal variation.
Taking care of your nervous system then becomes essential: slow down the pace and rely on plants traditionally used to support adaptation to stress, such as adaptogenic plants.
Supporting sleep to preserve nervous system balance
Sleep directly influences emotional regulation. It is common for women to notice variations in sleep quality throughout the month, especially at the end of the cycle. More fragmented sleep can then increase your irritability or emotional sensitivity.
Prioritize sleep hygiene, limit evening stimulation, and opt for natural practices that promote restorative sleep to stabilize your mood.
👉🏼 Discover our natural solutions in case ofinsomnia during menopause.
Adapting your lifestyle to hormonal rhythms
Physical activity, diet, and the level of social stimulation also modulate the emotional experience of the cycle.
For example, lighten your schedule during the luteal phase, favor more introspective activities during menstruation, or support overall vitality with plants can help you better live with these natural variations. The goal is not to control every fluctuation but rather to adjust your pace to reduce the gap between what you demand of yourself and what your body is ready to give.
Premenstrual syndrome and intensity of emotional variations
Not all women experience marked changes during their menstrual cycle. For some, emotional variations can become more difficult to live with, especially during the luteal phase.
We explain how to differentiate normal fluctuations from a true premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or, more rarely, from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Recognizing the emotional manifestations of PMS
Premenstrual syndrome corresponds to a set of physical and emotional symptoms that appear cyclically, in the luteal phase, that is, after ovulation and before menstruation. According to clinical data, these manifestations disappear with the start of menstruation.
Emotionally, PMS can include more marked irritability, unusual anxiety, emotional fatigue, or greater vulnerability to stress. The peculiarity of premenstrual syndrome lies not only in these symptoms but in their recurrence from one cycle to another. PMS can be uncomfortable but remains compatible with daily life, even if it sometimes requires adjustments in pace or organization.
Distinguishing premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, also occurring in the luteal phase, represents a more severe and less common form. However, the emotional symptoms are more intense and can significantly disrupt personal, professional, or relational life.
The scientific studies notably mention deep sadness, extreme irritability, or significant anxiety. These manifestations generally improve after the onset of menstruation.
What distinguishes PMDD from PMS is not only the nature of the symptoms but their functional impact. When mood swings become disabling or impair quality of life, medical advice is recommended.
Key points to remember:
● The link between the menstrual cycle and mood is related to hormonal fluctuations and their interaction with the nervous system.
● It is not the hormone levels themselves, but the individual sensitivity to variations that influences the intensity of feelings.
● Each phase of the cycle is usually accompanied by a specific emotional tone.
● PMS corresponds to recurring symptoms in the luteal phase, while PMDD is characterized by greater intensity and functional impact.
● Adjusting your rhythm, supporting your sleep, and regulating stress can help better live through these natural modulations.
👉🏼 Discover our Serenity Kit to naturally soothe the emotional system.
You do not control your hormonal fluctuations, but you can change how you experience them. Understanding the link between the menstrual cycle and mood allows for a clearer perspective on your feelings, anticipating certain periods, and adjusting your rhythm with more flexibility.
Author: Patricia Beard
FAQ Menstrual cycle & mood
Why does the menstrual cycle influence mood?
Ovarian hormones, especially estrogens and progesterone, interact with brain systems involved in emotional regulation. Hormonal variations can thus modulate sensitivity to stress and the perception of emotions.
Is it normal to have mood swings before your period?
Yes. Some women experience emotional variations in the luteal phase. When these symptoms are moderate and disappear with menstruation, it may be premenstrual syndrome.
What is the difference between PMS and PMDD?
PMS causes recurring symptoms but compatible with daily life. PMDD is rarer and causes intense emotional manifestations that significantly impair personal or professional life.
Can mood be stabilized during the menstrual cycle?
It is not possible to completely eliminate these fluctuations, but regulating stress, improving sleep, and adjusting your rhythm can reduce their intensity; as well as natural support through plants.
Bibliography:
Bendis, P. C., Zimmerman, S., Onisiforou, A., Zanos, P., & Georgiou, P. (2024). The impact of estradiol on serotonin, glutamate, and dopamine systems. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 18, 1348551. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1348551
McEvoy, K., & Osborne, L. M. (2019). Allopregnanolone and reproductive psychiatry: an overview. International Review of Psychiatry, 31(3), 237–244. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2018.1553775
Gudipally, P. R., & Sharma, G. K. (2023, July 17). Premenstrual syndrome. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560698/
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). (2026, February 12). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9132-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd