Do Women Perform Better Mentally During Their Periods?

A collaborative study by Dr Flaminia Ronca, UCL, and The Institute of Sports, Exercise & Health (ISEH) announced surprising new findings about the effect of a woman's menstrual cycle on her cognitive processes. The study reported that women who were in the luteal phase (the period between ovulation and menstruation) of their cycle made fewer errors, and had better 'mental agility' and reaction compared to other participants in the study.

How Was The Study Conducted?

Published in the international journal Neuropsychologia, the study aimed to understand the cognitive functions of sportswomen in their luteal phase as previous research suggested that they were at a higher risk of sustaining sports-related injuries during this time. The sample consisted of 241 participants out of which 96 were male and 47 were women who were not currently menstruating.

All participants had to undergo a battery of tests that were designed to imitate the cognitive processes that occur during team sports. They were asked to note down their moods, fill up symptom-related questionnaires and track their cycle's phases using period tracking apps. The most important finding was that regularly menstruating participants reacted 10-12 milliseconds faster, which could be the difference between getting a concussion or a light injury on the field.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Ronca, had this to say about her findings:

Impact Of The Study

Dr. Ronca's study is in contradiction to popular beliefs that periods limit a woman's ability to function. In many cultures, it is unfathomable to think that periods can co-exist with women performing regular functions in their daily lives. In Indian cultures, it is common to isolate women who have their period in one area of the household while young girls are kept from going to school. Studies show that 1 in every 4 girls skips school because of her periods. Hopefully, this new study will start changing the current narrative around menstruation and women.

You can learn more about the study by listening to Dr Ronca discuss her findings on BBC Today.