Menstrual cycle estradiol fluctuations predict changes in affect and socioemotional functioning

Previous research suggests that estradiol (E2) impacts mood as well as socioemotional and stress-related functioning in menstruating individuals. However, research in this area is limited by a preponderance of cross-sectional studies comparing psychological outcomes across menstrual phases that do not allow for conclusions to be made about E2's effects independent from progesterone.

In the current longitudinal investigation of 23 naturally cycling women, the potential effects of E2 on affect, state self-esteem, irritability, emotion recognition accuracy, and reactivity to both social exclusion (Cyberball) and psychosocial stress (Trier Social Stress Test; TSST) were assessed by comparing outcomes across two times of the menstrual cycle. Specifically, participants completed sessions in the early follicular (EF; cycle days 2-4, when E2 is expected to be low) and late follicular (LF; within the 6 days prior to ovulation, when E2 is expected to be high) phases.

Negative affect and irritability were significantly higher in the EF phase, whereas positive affect and state self-esteem were significantly higher in the LF phase. Only recognition accuracy for anger was higher in the EF phase, and this effect did not survive corrections for multiple comparisons. While phase did not impact emotional reactivity to Cyberball or the TSST, rumination in response to Cyberball was significantly increased in the EF compared to LF phase. Main analyses for cortisol and heart rate were not significant; however, exploratory analyses revealed a heightened response for cortisol during stress recovery and a larger increase in heart rate in anticipation of the TSST in the EF phase.

A beneficial effect of the high-E2 LF phase was found for general affective variables. Performance on tasks of socioemotional and stress-related functioning suggest that low or declining levels of E2 may enhance sensitivity to perceiving anger in others, ruminating in response to perceived rejection, and physiological activation in anticipation and recovery of psychosocial stress.