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The menstrual cycle and Raynaud's phenomenon
D Greenstein1, N Jeffcote, D Ilsley
1Department of Vascular Surgery, Seacroft Hospital Leeds, England.
Angiology
|May 1, 1996
Summary
Female sex hormones influence cold sensitivity, potentially explaining Raynaud
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Endocrinology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- High prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in premenopausal women suggests a link to female sex hormones.
- Hormonal fluctuations may affect thermoreceptors, influencing cold sensitivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alterations in cold sensitivity throughout the menstrual cycle in premenopausal women.
- To compare cold sensitivity and thermoregulation between women with primary RP and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- 50 premenopausal women (26 with primary RP, 24 controls) were studied across three menstrual cycle phases: menstruation, periovulation, and mid-luteal phase.
- Environmental heating and cooling protocols were applied.
- Finger hemodynamics (venous occlusion strain gauge plethysmography), fingertip temperature, and core temperature (oral thermocouple) were measured.
Main Results:
- Both groups exhibited altered cold sensitivity during the menstrual cycle, with the fastest finger rewarming observed during menstruation.
- A significant difference in core temperature was noted between groups during the mid-luteal phase.
- Women with RP did not show a significant core temperature rise post-ovulation.
Conclusions:
- The menstrual cycle is associated with changes in how cold affects digital blood flow.
- Hormonal variations during the menstrual cycle may play a role in the manifestation of Raynaud's phenomenon.