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Pain catastrophizing changes during the menstrual cycle.

Ankica Cosic¹, Lejla Ferhatovic, Adriana Banozic

¹a School of Health Sciences , University of Mostar , Bijeli brijeg b.b., Mostar , 88000 , Bosnia and Herzegovina .

Psychology, Health & Medicine

|February 27, 2013

Summary

Pain catastrophizing, a tendency to magnize pain, fluctuates during the menstrual cycle, peaking on day one. This pain response is higher in women who have not given birth and those with dysmenorrhea.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Gynecology
Pain Management

Background:

Pain catastrophizing significantly impacts pain intensity and related outcomes.
Previous research indicates higher pain catastrophizing levels in women compared to men.
The influence of the menstrual cycle on pain catastrophizing requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine variations in pain catastrophizing across different menstrual cycle phases.
To assess differences in pain catastrophizing based on childbirth history and dysmenorrhea.
To explore the relationship between menstrual cycle phase, parity, and pain catastrophizing.

Main Methods:

A prospective study involving 149 healthy women aged 18-35 with regular menstrual cycles.
Participants completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale on days 1, 12, and 20 of their menstrual cycle.
Sociodemographic data, including childbirth history and dysmenorrhea, were collected.

Main Results:

Pain catastrophizing scores demonstrated significant variation throughout the menstrual cycle, highest on day 1 and decreasing thereafter.
Nulliparous women exhibited higher pain catastrophizing scores compared to parous women.
Dysmenorrheic women, particularly those using analgesics, showed elevated pain catastrophizing on day 1 of their cycle.

Conclusions:

Pain catastrophizing levels fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, with implications for pain management strategies.
Childbirth history and the presence of dysmenorrhea are associated with altered pain catastrophizing.
Understanding these cyclical variations can inform targeted interventions for pain in women.