Pain threshold variations in somatic wall tissues as a function of menstrual cycle, segmental site and tissue depth in non-dysmenorrheic women, dysmenorrheic women and men

摘要: Pain symptoms of many disorders are reported to vary with menstrual stage. This study investigated how pain thresholds electrical stimulation the skin, subcutis and muscle tissue varied stage in normal women compared these variations those dysmenorrhea healthy men at matched intervals. Thresholds three tissues were measured four times during course one cycle sites. Two sites on abdomen within uterine viscerotome (abdomen-rectus abdominis, left right) two outside it limbs (leg-quadriceps, arm-deltoid). Calculated from beginning menstruation (day 0), phases studied (days 2-6), periovulatory 12-16), luteal 17-22) premenstrual 25-28). Spontaneous associated was diary estimates a VAS scale. Whereas highest always occurred phase regardless segmental site or stimulus depth, lowest for whereas muscle/subcutis perimenstrually. Dysmenorrhea accentuated impact phase. For non-dysmenorrheic trends significant only abdominal subcutis, but dysmenorrheic also skin limb subcutis. lowered mainly sometimes never greatest hyperalgesic effects abdominis muscle. Abdominal more vulnerable influences than Muscle thresholds, not significantly lower limbs, particularly women. The amount hyperalgesia correlated spontaneous pain. Only minor sex differences observed arm leg, there unanimous refusal by men, women, be tested These results indicate that phase, status, site, depth all have unique interacting thus adding items lengthy still-growing list biological factors enter into an individual's judgment whether is painful.