Menstruation Turns Women Into Shopaholics

By Margaret Hartmann | March 30, 2009 | 1:30pm

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You know how all women love going on extravagant shopping sprees and how we turn into incompetent moody wrecks during our periods? According to new research the two lady stereotypes are related.

A new study by psychologists at Hertfordshire University in Britain found that women are more likely to go on a shopping spree 10 days before their periods begin, reports the BBC. Professor Karen Pine conducted a study of 443 women from the ages of 18 to 50 and asked them about their spending habits. Of the 153 women in the study who were in the later stage of their menstrual cycle, almost two thirds said they had recently bought something on impulse and 57% said they overspent by more than £25. “The later women were in their menstrual cycle, the more likely they were to have overspent,” said Pine. “Spending was less controlled, more impulsive and more excessive for women in the luteal phase.”

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The psychologists had two theories as to why the women were spending more right before they got their periods. They believe women may be shopping excessively in an attempt to deal with negative emotions they experience during their cycle. These hormonal fluctuations affect the part of the brain that deals with emotions and inhibition. “The spending behavior tends to be a reaction to intense emotions. They are feeling stressed or depressed and are more likely to go shopping to cheer themselves up and using it to regulate their emotions,” Pine said, according to The Daily Mail.

Since previous research has found that women dress up more while they are ovulating, Pine’s other theory is that women are buying things during this time to make themselves feel more attractive. Most of the items the women reported spending too much on were jewelry, makeup, and high heels.

The research also showed that women had more buyer’s remorse right before they get their period. Pine suggests, “If women are worried about their spending behavior then they should avoid going shopping at the end of their menstrual cycle.” Uh, thanks.

Shopping Sprees Linked To Periods [BBC]
How A Woman’s ‘Time Of The Month’ Can Be Blamed For Her Desire To Go Shopping [The Daily Mail]