An investigation of mental imagery ability fluctuations across the menstrual cycle: a longitudinal study

Mental imagery (MI) ability was examined across menstrual cycle phases, and associations with menstrual symptoms were evaluated. A longitudinal study was conducted with 168 women aged 18–25 with regular cycles. Menstrual cycle phases were monitored using a smartphone-based menstrual cycle tracking application, and mental imagery was assessed at four time points (menstrual, follicular, ovulation, and luteal) using the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire–2. Menstrual symptoms and pain intensity were evaluated using the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire and Numerical Rating Scale-11. MI ability, particularly kinesthetic imagery, differed significantly across menstrual phases (p < 0.001), with the lowest vividness observed during menstruation. However, no significant correlations were found between menstrual symptoms and MI ability (p > 0.05). MI variability was examined across four distinct menstrual cycle phases using a longitudinal within-cycle design. The authors’ findings highlight cycle-related variations in MI. The authors suggest that menstrual phase may be considered when implementing imagery-based interventions in clinical practice.