1Assistant Professor, Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital & RC, Ariyur, Pondicherry
2Associate Professor, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Science, Pondicherry
3Professor, Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital & RC, Ariyur, Pondicherry
4Associate Professor, Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital & RC, Ariyur, Pondicherry
Cyclical changes in female sex hormones during menstrual cycle not only have its role in reproductive function of women but also have its effect on womens’ psychology and cardiovascular system via its influence over autonomic nervous system. Hormonal imbalance affects autonomic regulation of the heart resulting in heart diseases. Vagus nerve was known to have a cardioprotective role. Cardiovagal balance is mainly measured by parasympathetic function tests. since there were lot of conflicts between the authors on cardiovagal balance in different phases of menstrual cycle, this study was chosen. Our aim is to compare the cardiovagal balance during follicular and luteal phases of menstrual cycle.
After getting institutional ethical committee clearance, this observational study was undertaken in the department of Physiology. Fifty young women volunteers aged between 20–30 years with normal BMI (18–24 kg/m2) and regular menstrual cycle were selected. Parasympathetic function tests like postural index (30: 15), Deep breathing test and Valsalva ratio were done during follicular phase (6th-7th day) and Luteal phase (24th-25th day) of menstrual cycle. statistical analysis was done using sPss 17 version.
All the three parasympathetic parameters were significantly increased in the follicular phase compared to the luteal phase.
Cardio protective role of female sex hormones (by influencing the autonomic nervous system) was found to be higher during follicular phase of menstrual cycle.
Deep Breathing test, Follicular Phase, Luteal Phase, Postural Index, Valsalva ratio
