Plasma proteomic signature of the human menstrual cycle
Summary
The menstrual cycle is one of the most fundamental biological rhythms in human physiology, yet its systemic molecular changes remain poorly understood. Here we show that the menstrual cycle is accompanied by widespread changes in the circulating proteome. By profiling nearly 3,000 plasma proteins in 2,760 women from the UK Biobank, we identified 198 proteins that vary across the cycle, forming distinct temporal patterns aligned with menstrual phases. These proteins include reproductive hor
Content
# Plasma proteomic signature of the human menstrual cycle
*Published: 2026 Apr 13*
The menstrual cycle is one of the most fundamental biological rhythms in human
physiology, yet its systemic molecular changes remain poorly understood. Here we
show that the menstrual cycle is accompanied by widespread changes in the
circulating proteome. By profiling nearly 3,000 plasma proteins in 2,760 women
from the UK Biobank, we identified 198 proteins that vary across the cycle,
forming distinct temporal patterns aligned with menstrual phases. These proteins
include reproductive hormones, cytokines and growth factors, many of which are
enriched in endometrial tissue and expressed in epithelial and stromal cell
types, highlighting their biological specificity. Several proteins were linked
to common reproductive disorders, including endometriosis, leiomyoma and
abnormal bleeding. Finally, we developed a proteomic score on the basis of 75
proteins that accurately predicts menstrual cycle phase. Together, these
findings provide a systems-level atlas of menstrual cycle biology and inform
biomarker discovery in women's health.
DOI: 10.1038/s41591-026-04326-5