Specific Physiological Responses in Women with Severe Primary Dysmenorrhea during the Menstrual Cycle

Abstract

This study examined the specific physiological responses of women with primary dysmenorrhea during the severely painful menstrual (days 1-2 of menstruation) and the non-painful follicular phases (days 5-8 after the onset of menstruation). Subjects consisted of 10 severe primary dysmenorrheic (Group P) and 10 non-dysmenorrheic women (Group C) with regular menstrual cycles. However, only 9 out of 10 and 8 out of 10 subjects of Groups P and C participated during the follicular phase. Physiological measures were taken in a resting state for 60 min. In the menstrual phase, the pain ratings and secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) concentrations of Group P were significantly higher than those of Group C, with relatively significant decreases in the leg-skin temperature in the former as well. In addition, the systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at 45 min after rest in Group P were significantly higher than those found in Group C. These reactions strongly suggest activation of the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary axis (SAM axis) by painful stress. Furthermore, the low-frequency (LF) component of the SBP variability (SBPV) was significantly higher in Group P than Group C, even during the follicular phase. These findings imply that Group P may well have elevated activities of the SAM axis throughout the whole menstrual cycle. As such, it suggests that dysmenorrheic women may be affected by certain stressors other than pain per se and pain-derived emotions throughout the whole menstrual cycle. The findings also indicate that women with dysmenorrhea have more sensitive responses to the SAM system than non-dysmenorrheic women during stress. Moreover, the high-frequency (HF) component of heart rate variability (HRV), or the index for the vagus nerve activity, displayed a consistently higher value in Group P than C. It is postulated that the human body may have responded to pain in an attempt to maintain the homeostatic state by enhancing vagus nerve activity.

Reduced parasympathetic tone in newly diagnosed essential hypertension

“…The HF component of HRV is equivalent to spontaneous respiratory sinus arrhythmia and is considered to represent the vagal control of heart rate. [15][16][17] The physiological explanation of VLF alone is not well defined. 7 The LF seems to be jointly contributed by both, vagal and sympathetic nerves.…”

Effects of a heat‐ and steam‐generating sheet on relieving symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea in young women

“…HSG sheet application to the lumbar region was more effective than to the abdominal suprapubic region to relieve lumbago on the second day of menstruation. Muscle tension increases when the human body experiences pains 15 . In the lumbar region, large muscles are present nearer to the surface than in the abdomen.…”

Effort-Reward Imbalance and Overcommitment at Work are Associated With Painful Menstruation: Results From the Hungarostudy Epidemiological Panel 2006

“…The authors argue that these findings imply that dysmenorrhoeal women may be affected by stressors other than pain per se as compared to controls. 38 It could be hypothesized that proinflammatory cytokines may also contribute to the explanation of the link between work stress and dysmenorrhoea. Chronic stress is now known to increase inflammatory activity.…”