Why are women more sensitive during menstruation? This is an expert explanation

JAKARTA - Emotional changes during menstruation are often considered just a "mood swing", although this condition has a scientific explanation related to biological processes in the female body.

Fluctuations in hormones during the menstrual cycle can affect the way the brain works, so it is normal for women to experience changes in feelings, sensitivity, and social responses that are different at certain periods.

Psychiatrist Elvine Gunawan, Sp.KJ, explained that emotional changes during menstruation are not only related to mood, but are also influenced by the dynamics of hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain.

He said that changes in estrogen and progesterone hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle have a direct impact on serotonin and dopamine, which are brain chemicals that play a role in regulating emotions and motivation.

"When you enter the beginning of menstruation, estrogen levels tend to decrease. That affects serotonin and dopamine, so women can feel more sensitive or emotional," he said in a discussion commemorating Kartini Day in Jakarta.

According to him, a number of studies show that in the early phase of menstruation, women tend to be more sensitive to facial expressions and other people's social responses. This makes a situation that is actually neutral can feel sharper or even negative.

This condition often creates stigma in society, such as the assumption that women become more irritable or too sensitive during menstruation. In fact, this change is a normal biological process.

Elvine added that after the menstrual phase ends and estrogen levels increase again, the balance of neurotransmitters will also improve. This helps the emotional condition to be more stable.

He emphasized the importance of understanding from the immediate environment, including spouses and families, of this process. Open communication is considered to prevent misunderstandings that often occur.

"Empathy is not enough in the form of words. There needs to be real action and understanding that this is a biological process that every woman experiences," he said.

In addition, education about menstruation also needs to be instilled early in the family environment in order to remove the stigma that is still developing and build healthier support.

The discussion emphasized that emotional changes during menstruation are not a weakness, but a natural part of the body's mechanism that needs to be understood together.