Bipolar disorder survey links regular menstrual cycles to greater premenstrual symptom burden
Published in Brain/Neurology, Diseases!.
Published October 11, 2026.
An October 10 announcement from the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology describes preliminary research on menstrual symptoms in women with bipolar disorder. The findings are being presented at the ECNP Congress in Munich.
Researchers surveyed 267 women of reproductive age through an online questionnaire distributed in spring 2025. Of these, 166 reported regular menstruation and 101 irregular menstruation. Women with regular cycles more often reported irritability, anger, physical symptoms and disruption of work or relationships during most or all premenstrual phases over the preceding year.
The regular-cycle group was also less likely to use hormonal contraception. Although 93% of respondents had tried it, more women with regular cycles reported stopping because of side effects.
These are self-reported associations from an observational survey. They cannot establish that cycle regularity causes greater symptom burden, or identify which contraceptive or psychiatric treatment works best. The research has not yet been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.
The investigators call for stronger collaboration between psychiatry and gynaecology and further research on reproductive health in bipolar disorder.