Too much is made of a woman's mood when she is going through her menstrual cycle, according to one Otago University psychiatric study.
A study involving data collection from 76 women (380 cycles) has shown a woman's mood does not change remarkably during the premenstrual phase and when any change does occur it is usually during the actual menstruation.
Prof Sarah Romans, of the Wellington clinical school of Otago University, said the influences on a woman's mood were more to do with external factors that could in fact be felt by men as well.
She outlined stress, physical health and social support as the three main influences on mood and said the menstrual cycle did not have the effect many might have thought.
"It is challenging that notion. I would be on dangerous territory if I said PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) didn't exist.
"We make too much of it [the menstrual cycle].
"Don't automatically think when a woman is moody that she is having her period."
Prof Romans said for women who do have mood drops during their cycle, it was usually immediately before and during menstruation.
The most notable drops in mood were in enjoyment and confidence and in a woman's sexual interest and drive.
The "periodograms" of the study showed no real change in anxiety levels, motivation, coping and energy levels.
