Pain Perception during Menstrual Cycle.
Summary of "Pain Perception during Menstrual Cycle."
Sexual hormones influence complex brain function and pain perception. Many psychophysical studies attempted to establish pain perception changes across menstrual cycle in animal models and healthy women or those with chronic pain. General results are quite uncertain in regard to consistent menstrual-related fluctuations of pain perception. The few studies applying neurophysiological procedures to test pain-related changes during menstrual cycle suggested a fluctuation of central modulation of pain across phases, with a prevalence of excitatory versus inhibitory control in the premenstrual period, which may explain the cyclic worsening of many syndromes, such as migraine. Whatever is the relevance of menstrual cycle on individual painful symptoms, it should be accepted as one of the numerous factors influencing mechanisms of neuromodulation.
Affiliation
Neurophysiopathology of Pain Unit, Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences Department, Bari Aldo Moro University, Neurological Building, Policlinico General Hospital, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy, m.detommaso@neurol.uniba.it.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Current pain and headache reports
ISSN: 1534-3081
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21556710
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11916-011-0207-1
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Menstrual Cycle
The period from onset of one menstrual bleeding (MENSTRUATION) to the next in an ovulating woman or female primate. The menstrual cycle is regulated by endocrine interactions of the HYPOTHALAMUS; the PITUITARY GLAND; the ovaries; and the genital tract. The menstrual cycle is divided by OVULATION into two phases. Based on the endocrine status of the OVARY, there is a FOLLICULAR PHASE and a LUTEAL PHASE. Based on the response in the ENDOMETRIUM, the menstrual cycle is divided into a proliferative and a secretory phase.
Premenstrual Syndrome
A combination of distressing physical, psychologic, or behavioral changes that occur during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Symptoms of PMS are diverse (such as pain, water-retention, anxiety, cravings, and depression) and they diminish markedly 2 or 3 days after the initiation of menses.
Pseudopregnancy
An acyclic state that resembles PREGNANCY in that there is no ovarian cycle, ESTROUS CYCLE, or MENSTRUAL CYCLE. Unlike pregnancy, there is no EMBRYO IMPLANTATION. Pseudopregnancy can be experimentally induced to form DECIDUOMA in the UTERUS.
Menstruation
The periodic shedding of the ENDOMETRIUM and associated menstrual bleeding in the MENSTRUAL CYCLE of humans and primates. Menstruation is due to the decline in circulating PROGESTERONE, and occurs at the late LUTEAL PHASE when LUTEOLYSIS of the CORPUS LUTEUM takes place.
Pain Perception
The process by which PAIN is recognized and interpreted by the brain.
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