MENSTRUAL-CYCLE MODULATION OF TENDER POINTS

Changes in pain sensitivity throughout the menstrual cycle were assess ed in 36 normally menstruating women and 30 users of oral contraceptiv es. Pain sensitivity was measured with palpation of rheumatological te nder points and with pressure dolorimetry. The number of tender points identified by palpation was greater in the follicular (postmenstrual) phase of the cycle as compared to the luteal (intermenstrual) phase i n normally cycling women but not in users of oral contraceptives. Thes e findings are related to previously described physiological and psych ological features of the menstrual cycle, with particular emphasis on the role of hormonal events in modulating pain perception, particularl y in musculoskeletal disorders such as fibromyalgia. (C) 1998 Internat ional Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.