Sometimes happiness, sometimes irritability during periods... what effect do hormones have on the brain?
- bySudha Saxena
- 13 Jul, 2026
Do you ever feel good one moment during your period and then cry the next? We often attribute this to mood swings, but have you ever wondered what hormones do to our brains during these times, leaving us completely out of control?
During your period, you might often burst into tears over a small thing, or you might feel good one moment and then anxious or angry the next. This happens to almost all women during periods and PMS (premenstrual syndrome). We commonly refer to this as mood swings. You'll also find numerous memes on social media about how girls become irritable during their periods or how one should speak to women carefully during these times, as they never know how they might react. However, these memes about periods are often portrayed in a very insensitive manner, making it seem as if they're being ridiculed rather than understanding the discomfort they experience during those times.
However, even setting this aside, it's a fact that women's moods change rapidly during these times, and sometimes even they themselves don't understand it. If you're thinking you're at fault, that's not true at all, because hormones are the culprit. Let's find out from an expert what hormones do to our brains during these times, leaving us completely out of control. Based on our conversation with Dr. Sonu Khokhar, MBBS, Health and Wellness Expert, we're providing you with complete information on this matter.
What effect do hormones have on the brain during periods?
- During periods and PMS, our hormones fluctuate rapidly, affecting not only our mood but also many other things.
- During and a few days before your period, your body's levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone suddenly drop. This decrease in these hormones also reduces serotonin, the brain's pleasure-inducing chemical, and you may feel depressed or irritable.
- Serotonin helps maintain a good mood. When its levels begin to decline, we may start crying over small things, or even old issues.
- At this time, happy hormones in the brain also start decreasing and this also affects the mood.
- Estrogen and progesterone aren't just related to our fertility. These hormones also affect our mood. Progesterone calms the mind, and when this hormone levels decrease during or before your period, your mind becomes restless. You may feel anxious and nervous during this time.
- At this time our mind becomes very sensitive and due to this we start feeling anything more.
Dr. Sonu says that any woman should pay attention to all signs related to her period and should immediately consult a doctor if she notices any changes.
Image Credit: Freepik, Shutterstock






