Nasal mucosal swelling and reactivity during a menstrual cycle

Introduction: Nasal stuff ness is a great problem for many women in the lat er part of pregnancy. Objective: This study was performed to evaluate wheth er oestrogen causes nasal congestion and/or a hyperreactive reaction of the nasal mucosa. Material and Methods:Ten healthy fertile women were examined during menstruation. Nasal mucosal congestion was studied with rhinostereo metry and acoustic rhinometry. The nasal mucosa was challenged with 3 doses of histamine solution to study nasal reactivity. Measurements were made 3 times during menstruation. To find the exact time of ovulation, when oestro gen reaches its peak value, intravaginal ultrasound tests were done and blo od samples taken, to determine the oestrogen and progesterone levers. Resul ts: The nasal mucosa became hyperreactive to histamine in connection with o vulation, when the blood level of oestrogen reached its peak. This does not occur during the menstrual or the luteal phase. No significant alteration was found in the baseline position during the menstruation. Conclusion: The re is a connection between high oestrogen level and nasal mucosal reactivit y. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.