Body-Image Perception and Dissatisfaction Throughout Phases of the Female Menstrual Cycle

This pilot study investigated the association between the menstrual cycle and participants' body-size perception, judgments of ideal body size, detection of changes in body size, and body dissatisfaction. Thirty participants (M age = 23.3 yr., SD = 3.9), who did not have eating disorders, viewed digital images of their bodies. Judgments on all tasks were made during premenstrual, intermenstrual, and menstrual phases of the menstrual cycle. Participants expressed a desire for a smaller ideal body size for themselves in all three phases. Body dissatisfaction was significantly greater during the premenstrual and menstrual phases. The menstrual cycle was not associated with significant changes in body-size perception, ideal size judgments, or detection of changes in body size.