Denial is associated with higher ambulatory blood pressure across the menstrual cycle

Studies show that stress perception is associated with increased daily ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and that denying the negative effects of stress increases BP as well. Whether these effects persist over the menstrual cycle is unknown.

To examine the effects of measures of stress and stress denial on ambulatory work and home BP during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.

Seventy-one women (age = 34.9 ± 7.7 years) employed as secretaries or technicians wore an ambulatory BP monitor during the follicular (between day 7-10; Mean = 8 ± 2) and luteal (between day 19-25; Mean = 22 ± 2) phases of their cycle. During each phase, relationships between BPs averaged at work and home and various stress measures and demographic and anthropometric variables were examined using stepwise regression.

Ambulatory BPs did not change from the follicular to luteal phase. Stress denial was generally associated with higher ambulatory BP (p < 0.05) over the menstrual cycle, while other parameters had varying effects in different situations (work and home) and cycle phases.

Stress denial has a persistent effect on BP, regardless of menstrual phase; however, shifts in the hormonal environment throughout the menstrual cycle may mediate other somatic and behavioural associations with BP.