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Control of sweating during the human menstrual cycle
1US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA 01760-5007.
Summary
The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle elevates the sweating threshold in women, impacting thermoregulation during heat stress and exercise. This shift affects how the body initiates sweating to cool down.
Area of Science:
- Human Physiology
- Thermoregulation
- Reproductive Endocrinology
Background:
- Thermoregulatory responses vary across the menstrual cycle.
- The luteal phase is associated with a higher resting core body temperature.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for female athletes and individuals exposed to heat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate thermoregulatory differences between the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.
- To assess the impact of the luteal phase on sweating threshold during exercise and heat exposure.
- To determine if luteal phase effects on thermoregulation persist under strenuous conditions.
Main Methods:
- Seven women underwent two experimental protocols during follicular and luteal phases.
- Continuous measurements of esophageal temperature, skin temperature, and sweating were recorded.
- Protocols included passive heat exposure and high-intensity cycling exercise in controlled environmental conditions.
Main Results:
- A consistent increase in resting esophageal temperature was observed during the luteal phase.
- Mean skin temperature was higher in the luteal phase at 50°C.
- The esophageal temperature threshold for initiating sweating was elevated in the luteal phase, by an average of 0.5°C, without altering sweating sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle significantly modulates sweating control during heat stress and exercise.
- A higher core temperature threshold is required to initiate sweating in the luteal phase.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering menstrual cycle phase in female thermoregulatory responses.