MODULATION OF MYOFASCIAL PAIN BY THE REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Statement of problem. The predominance of myofascial pain in women in childbearing years suggests that the reproductive hormones may play a role in this pain disorder. Purpose, The potential influence of these hormones on myofascial pain was evaluated. Methods. Pain patterns were compared across three consecutive menstrual cycles in oral contracept ives users (OC group) and nonusers (Non-OC group). Results. Preliminar y results showed that within menstrual cycle variability of daily pain was higher than the nonusers group. In addition to their low variatio n, pain levels of oral contraceptives users remained positive across t he hormonal cycle, whereas in nonusers, peaks of pain alternated frequ ently with pain-free periods. These data suggest that pain levels in o ral contraceptives users may be more constant than those of nonusers. Conclusions. This potential hormonal influence on myofascial pain leve ls among oral contraceptives users may represent one of the various ad verse effects induced by oral contraceptives at the trigeminal area in sensitive subjects. Evidence supporting the link between estrogen, ni tric oxide, and inflammatory processes is presented.