Relationship between menstrual cycle and cognitive function in women with primary dysmenorrhea

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gynecology
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Primary dysmenorrhea is a common condition affecting many females.
• The impact of menstrual pain on cognitive function requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the relationship between menstrual pain intensity and cognitive function in females with primary dysmenorrhea.
• To identify specific cognitive domains affected by dysmenorrhea during the menstrual cycle.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 46 females with primary dysmenorrhea was studied.
• Cognitive function was evaluated using tests such as phonemic/semantic fluency and digit span (DGS).
• Assessments were conducted on day 3 and the most painful day of menstruation.

Main Results:

• Significant decreases in phonemic and semantic fluency were observed on day 3 of menstruation (p < 0.001).
• Forward and backward digit span scores significantly declined on day 3 and the most painful day of menstruation (p < 0.001).
• Logical memory scores also showed a significant decrease on the most painful day (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Strong evidence supports a negative correlation between dysmenorrhea and cognitive function.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to compare cognitive function across different menstrual cycle stages.