[The effects of the menstrual cycle on temporary threshold shift (TTS) and sex differences in TTS]

The aim of this research was to investigate the influences of the menstrual cycles of women on temporary threshold shift (TTS) and to compare the results with TTS of men. The subjects were, after 5 min rest, exposed to 100dB of continuous white noise for 8 min. The audiometry with a 4000 Hz test tone was done in the 45-min recovery process. In the three phases of the menstrual cycle, TTS tended to be lower in postovulatory phase than in preovulatory phase and during menstruation. The male TTS was higher than that of the female in all phases of menstrual cycle.