Electrocardiogram Pattern in Females Suffering From Premenstrual Syndrome.

Abstract

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common but ill understood condition and has significant impact on the quality of life of the females. In attempted to increase the understanding of this condition. The aim of the work was to find out whether there is an identifiable ECG pattern during the premenstrual period in females suffering from PMS. Methods: 44 female in the reproductive age were selected. A twelve lead ECG (ELI 100) was used to make recordings for each subject twice for one month, once before the menstrual bleeding started and the other after the menstrual bleeding stopped. Height and Weight also was obtained, fill a questioner that included personal information such as: age, age of menarche, date of the last menstrual bleeding. According to symptoms the forty four students were subdivided into two main groups. The first group was the PMS group (34 subjects) and the second group was the control group (10 subjects). Results: Findings showed a statistically non significant difference in the mean heart rate in the pre-menstrual phase between the two groups. Irritability was the most common symptom of PMS, found in 94% of the subjects, depression and emotional liability in 79%, bloating in 50%, headache and decreased ability to concentrate in 38%, constipation in 32% and finally edema in 15% of the subjects. In conclusion there was no significant change in the heart rate as recorded on the ECG during the premenstrual period among subjects with PMS. There is no specific ECG pattern which can be identified during the PMS.