The Effects of Menstrual Cycle on Dreaming

Abstract

In this study we have investigated the effect that the menstrual cycle has on dreams, sleep quality and mood. A total of 16 women, university students, with a regular menstrual cycle of 28 days, not on any form of hormonal treatment were tested over five weeks. Methods of diary of dreams, daily self-evaluation of mood and weekly selfassessment of quality of sleep were adopted. Mood scores varied significantly during the menstrual cycle (p < 0.05) with improvement of mood around the time of ovulation and worsening during the pre-menstrual phase of the cycle. Sleep quality did not vary significantly during the menstrual cycle. During the pre-ovulatory phase of the cycle dreams had the highest levels of incongruity (p < 0.05), number of positive emotions (p < 0.0005), number of male-non-self-characters (p < 0.005) and erotic content (p < 0.001). While during the pre-menstrual phase dreams were longer (p < 0.05) and with a larger number of female characters (p < 0.005) and of negative emotions (p < 0.0005). These results suggest that the hormonal variations during the menstrual cycle may have an effect on dreaming. Both the preovulatory oestrogen peak and the presence of progesterone during the luteal phase may enhance memory processes involved in the dream production.

Mood swings across the menstrual cycle: a comparison between oral contraceptive users and non-users

“…This method has been suggested as an acceptable alternative to determinations made through endocrinological assessment and has face value because it allows for individual differences in cycle length. This tested method has been chosen to subsequently minimise the possible bias (connection between cyclical variations of mood and specific phases of the menstrual cycle) of the participants (Natale et al 2003).…”

Women's Estrus and Extended Sexuality: Reflections on Empirical Patterns and Fundamental Theoretical Issues

“…Descriptions written in the follicular phase contained markedly more sexual references than those written during the luteal phase. Near ovulation, women's dreams include greater sexual content (Natale et al, 2003 ) and, when given a choice of a film to view, they are more likely to choose an erotic one (Zillmann et al, 1994 ). From a study of 259 naturally cycling women followed over two cycles, Prasad et al ( 2014 ) reported a mid-cycle spike in sexual activity linked with higher same-day estradiol and LH levels (though they did not detect an impact of progesterone levels).…”

The dreams of women with and without severe emotional behavioral premenstrual symptoms.

“…The identity of characters, their age and sex, social interactions, and emotions have been identified as dream dimensions that are differently represented across phases. Natale, Albertazzi, and Cangini (2003) found that women report more positive emotions both in waking life and in dreams during the follicular phase than during the late luteal phase. Conversely, that phase is characterized by a more negative mood in waking life and by more negative emotions and more aggressive interactions in dreams.…”