Relationship between personality, psychological and somatic symptoms, and the menstrual cycle

Abstract

The relationship between personality variables and menstrual cycle symptomatology was studied in a sample of 40 young women (19–24 yr) with different scores in neuroticism and depression. Subjects were grouped into spontaneous ovulatory and anovulatory cycles according to basal body temperature data. Women were asked to complete Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Moos' Menstrual Distress Questionnaire and a psychosomatic symptoms questionnaire during the menstrual, ovulatory and premenstrual phases. Significant changes in the total scores and in the subscales of pain, water retention and negative affect of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire throughout the menstrual cycle regardless of neuroticism and depression were observed, with highest symptomatology levels in the menstrual phase. Depressive women showed higher degrees of pain during the menstrual phase, and those depressive women with spontaneous anovulatory cycles reported the highest symptomatology in the total scores of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire during the menstrual phase. In conclusion, neuroticism, depression and cycle condition can not explain by themselves all the changes during the menstrual cycle phases found in this research.