| Title: | Plasma proteomic signature of the human menstrual cycle |
| Journal: | Nature Medicine |
| Published: | 13 Apr 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41974910/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04326-5 |
Publication 18014
WARNING: the interactive features of this website use CSS3, which your browser does not support. To use the full features of this website, please update your browser.
Abstract
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.</p>
10 Authors
- Iben Riishede
- Line Rode
- Pia Rengtved Lundegaard
- Søren Albertsen Rand
- Lars Dyrskjøt
- Ole Halfdan Larsen
- Charlotte Kvist Ekelund
- Anja Pinborg
- Stefan Stender
- Jonas Ghouse
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 43247 | Genetics of complex human traits with a main focus on cardiac disease. |
Enabling scientific discoveries that improve human health