Does experimental pain response vary across the menstrual cycle? A methodological review

Jeffrey J. Sherman1, Linda LeResche
1Department of Oral Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-6370, USA. [email protected]

Tóm tắt

The findings on sex differences in human experimental pain research are inconsistent. One possible factor contributing to the inconsistent findings is the female hormonal cycle, as hormone levels may affect pain sensitivity. A number of studies suggest that women's responses to experimentally evoked pain vary across the menstrual cycle. However, at least an equal number of studies suggest a lack of variability. The purpose of this article is to review the literature with emphasis on what we believe could be the reasons for the inconsistent findings, namely, differences in populations sampled, timing of experimental sessions across the menstrual cycle, and nomenclature used to identify the time (phases) in the cycle when measurements were done, nature of the pain stimuli chosen, and outcomes measured. These inconsistencies and other methodological problems associated with most experimental pain studies make it difficult to draw inferences from this literature. For the science to improve, replication of significant findings using standardized timing of sessions, pain stimulus procedures, outcomes, and hormonal assessment is necessary.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

10.1007/BF00844930

10.1210/en.2004-1142

Berglund LA, Derendorf H, and Simpkins JW.Desensitization of brain opiate receptor mechanisms by gonadal steroid treatments that stimulate luteinizing hormone secretion.Endocrinology122: 2717–2726, 1988.

10.1159/000125040

10.1017/S0140525X97221485

Bourque J, Sulon J, Demey-Ponsart E, Sodoyez JC, and Gaspard U.A simple, direct radioimmunoassay for salivary progesterone determination during the menstrual cycle.Clin Chem32: 948–951, 1986.

Carlson CR, Reid KI, Curran SL, Studts J, Okeson JP, Falace D, Nitz A, and Bertrand PM.Psychological and physiological parameters of masticatory muscle pain.Pain76: 207–307, 1998.

10.1152/jn.1996.76.1.571

Cimino R, Farella M, Michelotti A, Pugliese R, and Martina R.Does the ovarian cycle influence the pressure-pain threshold of the masticatory muscles in symptom-free women?J Orofacl Pain14: 105–111, 2000.

10.1152/jn.1998.80.3.1533

10.1016/0006-8993(93)91716-6

10.1016/S0006-8993(97)00092-9

10.1016/S0015-0282(16)57058-7

10.1016/S0732-118X(97)00009-3

10.1046/j.1365-2842.2002.00988.x

10.1016/S1082-3174(11)80022-X

10.1097/00006842-199607000-00005

10.1097/00006842-199709000-00008

10.1016/S0149-7634(00)00017-8

Fillingim RBand Ness TJ.The influence of menstrual cycle and sex hormones on pain responses in humans. In:Sex, Gender, and Pain, edited by Fillingim RB and Seattle, WA: IASP Press, 2000, p. 191–207.

Gann PH, Giovanazzi S, Van Horn L, Branning A, and Chatterton RT.Saliva as a medium for investigating intra- and interindividual differences in sex hormone levels in premenopausal women.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev10: 59–64, 2001.

10.1016/j.pain.2005.08.009

10.1016/S0304-3959(97)03362-9

10.3758/BF03203051

10.3758/BF03198677

10.1111/j.1471-6402.1985.tb00857.x

Gracely RH.Methods of testing pain mechanisms in normal man. In:Textbook of Pain, edited by Wall PD and Melzack R. London: Churchill, 1990, p. 315–336.

Granot M, Yarnitsky D, Itskovitz-Eldor J, Granovsky Y, Peer E, and Zimmer EZ.Pain perception in women With dysmenorrhea.Obstet Gynecol98: 407–411, 2001.

10.1016/S0304-3959(98)00087-6

International Association for the Study of Pain Special Interest Group.Newsletter of the I.A.S.P.Special Interest Group on Sex, Gender, and Pain.November, 2004, p. 3–4.

10.1212/WNL.45.6.1076

10.1111/j.1526-4610.1987.hed2709491.x

10.1093/ilar.33.1-2.3

10.1016/0890-6238(92)90002-B

10.1097/00006842-199903000-00006

10.1152/jn.1997.78.4.1841

10.2466/pms.1986.63.2.387

10.1016/0304-3959(94)90046-9

LeResche L.Epidemiologic perspectives on sex differences in pain. In:Sex, Gender, and Pain, edited by Fillingim RB, Seattle, WA: IASP Press, 2000, p. 233–249.

LeResche L.Sex, gender and clinical pain. In:Proceedings of the 11th World Congress on Pain, edited by Flor H, Kalso E, and Dostrovsky JO Seattle, Washington: IASP Press. In press.

10.1016/j.pain.2003.06.001

LeResche L, Sherman JJ, Huggins K, Saunders K, Mancl L, Lentz G, and Dworkin SF.Musculoskeletal orofacial pain and other signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders during pregnancy: a prospective study.J Orofac Pain19: 193–201, 2005.

Luciano AA, Peluso J, Koch EI, Maier D, Kuslis S, and Davison E.Temporal relationship and reliability of the clinical, hormonal, and ultrasonographic indices of ovulation in infertile women.Obstet Gynecol75: 412–416, 1990.

10.1093/brain/124.9.1754

10.1016/0304-3959(95)00068-2

10.1152/ajpregu.1990.259.6.R1156

10.1016/0304-3959(93)90027-M

10.1677/joe.0.0970213

10.1016/0029-7844(95)00352-5

10.1523/JNEUROSCI.19-01-00001.1999

10.1016/0304-3959(93)90050-Y

10.1016/0006-8993(82)91276-8

10.1016/S0167-8760(97)00058-5

Price DD.Psychophysical measurement of normal and abnormal pain processing. In:Touch, Temperature, and Pain in Health and Diseases. Mechanisms and Assessments. Progress in Pain Research and Management, Vol 3, edited by Boivie J, Hansson P, and Lindblom U. Seattle, WA: IASP Press, 1994, p. 3–25.

10.1210/endo-127-2-667

Read GF.Hormones in Saliva. In:Human Saliva: Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology.Vol. II, edited by, Tenovuo JO, Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1989, p. 147–176.

Ren Kand Dubner R.Central nervous system plasticity and persistent pain.J Orofac Pain13: 155–163, 1999.

10.1016/S0304-3959(97)00199-1

10.1016/S0304-3959(98)00258-9

Sherman JJ, LeResche L, Mancl LA, Huggins K, Sage JC, and Dworkin SF.Cyclic effects on experimental pain response in women with temporomandibular disorders.J Orofac Pain19: 133–143, 2005.

10.1016/0304-3940(96)12838-X

Speroff L, Glass RH, and Kase NG.Regulation of the menstrual cycle. In:Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility.5th ed., Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1994, p. 183–220.

10.1016/0304-3959(88)90122-4

10.1016/0304-3959(95)00059-3

10.1037/0278-6133.21.4.358

10.1016/S0304-3959(03)00243-4

10.3758/BF03198725

10.1097/00006842-199103000-00008

Treolar AE, Boynton RE, Behn BG, and Brown BW.Variation of the human menstrual cycle throughout reproductive life.Intl J Fertil12: 77–126, 1967.

10.1016/0304-3959(95)00214-6

10.1016/0031-9384(84)90065-9

10.1016/0304-3959(88)90066-8

Walker RF, Read GF, Riad-Fahmy D, and Griffiths K.The assessment of ovarian function by the radioimmunoassay of oestradiol-17B in saliva. In:Immunoassays of Steroids in Saliva, edited by Read GF, Riad-Fahmy D, Walker RF, and Griffiths K, Cardiff, United Kingdom: Alpha Omega Publishing, 1984, p. 155–164.

10.1136/jnnp.34.2.148

Zubieta J, Stohler CS, Bueller JA, Xu Y, Heitzeg MM, and Smith YR.Estradiol regulation of μ-opioid-mediated pain stress responses (Abstract).Program No. 660.3. 2003 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2003. Online.