An investigation of mental imagery ability fluctuations across the menstrual cycle: a longitudinal study

Mental imagery (MI) ability was examined across menstrual cycle phases, and associations with menstrual symptoms were evaluated. A longitudinal study was conducted with 168 women aged 18-25 with regular cycles. Menstrual cycle phases were monitored using a smartphone-based menstrual cycle tracking application, and mental imagery was assessed at four time points (menstrual, follicular, ovulation, and luteal) using the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2. Menstrual symptoms and pain intensity were evaluated using the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire and Numerical Rating Scale-11. MI ability, particularly kinesthetic imagery, differed significantly across menstrual phases (p < 0.001), with the lowest vividness observed during menstruation. However, no significant correlations were found between menstrual symptoms and MI ability (p > 0.05). MI variability was examined across four distinct menstrual cycle phases using a longitudinal within-cycle design. The authors' findings highlight cycle-related variations in MI. The authors suggest that menstrual phase may be considered when implementing imagery-based interventions in clinical practice.