Depressed mononuclear cell phagocytic activity associated with menstruation

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Gynecology
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) incidence peaks around menstruation.
• The underlying immunological mechanisms are not fully understood.
• Investigating menstrual cycle-related immune changes may elucidate PID risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in cell-mediated immunity during the menstrual cycle in healthy women.
• To determine if these immune changes correlate with the increased risk of PID near menses.
• To assess the effect of ibuprofen on these immune parameters.

Main Methods:

• Studied 8 healthy women throughout their menstrual cycles.
• Measured T-cell and B-cell counts.
• Assessed mononuclear cell response to mitogen stimulation and phagocytic activity.
• Evaluated the impact of ibuprofen treatment on phagocytic activity.

Main Results:

• Cellular immune responses (T-cells, B-cells, mitogen response) were independent of the menstrual cycle.
• A significant decrease in mononuclear cell phagocytic activity was observed early in the menstrual cycle.
• Ibuprofen treatment did not alter the depressed phagocytic activity.

Conclusions:

• Reduced phagocytic activity early in the menstrual cycle may contribute to increased susceptibility to pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Cell-mediated immunity, apart from phagocytosis, does not appear to be cyclically dependent in healthy women.
• Ibuprofen does not mitigate the observed decrease in phagocytic function during the early menstrual cycle.