MENSTRUAL-CYCLE, BLOOD-PRESSURE AND ISCHEMIC PAIN SENSITIVITY IN WOMEN - A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

Eleven women were tested twice for ischemic pain sensitivity; once dur ing their follicular phase (Days 4-9) and once during their mid-late l uteal phase (5-10 days after ovulation) of a confirmed ovulatory cycle . Additionally, in order to examine blood pressure-related hypoalgesic effects, each had 3-4 clinic blood pressures determined during an ini tial screening interview and each also completed a daily symptom calen dar for one complete menstrual cycle prior to testing in order to inve stigate relationships between 'real-life' symptomatology and laborator y-induced pain sensitivity. Results revealed significantly shorter pai n tolerance times and marginally shorter pain threshold times in the l uteal vs. follicular phase, while verbal descriptors of pain intensity (sensory) and pain unpleasantness (affective) did not vary with cycle phase. Clinic blood pressures were positively correlated with pain th reshold and tolerance times assessed during both cycle phases. Real-li fe physical symptom ratings were predictive of laboratory pain intensi ty ratings during the follicular phase and tended to predict unpleasan tness ratings during both phases. These results not only confirm recen t reports of greater sensitivity to ischemic pain in women during the luteal phase of their cycle, but extend the literature by demonstratin g pressure-related hypoalgesic effects in women during both cycle phas es. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.