DO PREMENSTRUAL PAIN AND EDEMA EXHIBIT SEASONAL VARIABILITY

This study tested whether symptoms of pain and edema associated with c hange during the premenstrual phase of the monthly menstrual cycle exh ibit a seasonal pattern. Menstruating chronic myofascial face pain cas es (N = 99) and acquaintance controls (N = 100) were questioned about their premenstrual symptoms during the prior month in each of 10 conse cutive months. Unlike myofascial face pain and psychological distress, premenstrual symptoms of general discomfort and edema did not show an exacerbation in the dark months for either cases or controls. The pos itive results for distress and facial pain and the negative results fo r the premenstrual symptoms occurred whether or not respondents met an algorithmic diagnosis of DSM-IV premenstrual dysphoric syndrome.