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Menstrual cycle modulation of tender points
Eleni G Hapidou1, Gary B Rollman
1Chronic Pain Management Program, Chedoke Rehabilitation Services, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, Box 2000, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C2, Canada.
Pain
|October 10, 1998
Summary
Pain sensitivity fluctuates during the menstrual cycle in women. Normally cycling women experience more tender points in the follicular phase, unlike oral contraceptive users.
Area of Science:
- Pain perception research
- Gynecology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Menstrual cycle phases influence physiological and psychological states.
- Hormonal fluctuations are known to modulate pain sensitivity.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for managing chronic pain conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how pain sensitivity varies across the menstrual cycle.
- To compare pain sensitivity in normally menstruating women versus oral contraceptive users.
- To explore the role of hormonal events in pain modulation.
Main Methods:
- Assessed pain sensitivity in 36 normally menstruating women and 30 oral contraceptive users.
- Utilized palpation of rheumatological tender points.
- Employed pressure dolorimetry for quantitative pain measurement.
Main Results:
- Normally cycling women exhibited more tender points in the follicular phase compared to the luteal phase.
- This cyclical variation in tender points was not observed in oral contraceptive users.
- Pain sensitivity differences were linked to hormonal events during the menstrual cycle.
Conclusions:
- Menstrual cycle phase significantly impacts pain sensitivity in normally menstruating women.
- Oral contraceptives may attenuate cyclical changes in pain perception.
- Hormonal modulation of pain is a key factor, especially in conditions like fibromyalgia.