ABSTRACT
Background: Autonomic nerve function status may be changed during follicular and late luteal phases of menstrual cycle due to fluctuations of serum estrogen and progesterone level. Objective: To observe the sympathetic nerve function status during follicular and late luteal phases of menstrual cycle and their relationships with serum estrogen and progesterone in healthy young womens. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2009.A total number of thirty (30) apparently healthy unmarried women with age ranged from 20-25 years were investigated. Two simple autonomic nerve function tests, like fall of systolic blood pressure (SBP) on standing and rise of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) during handgrip were done to assess sympathetic activity. Serum estrogen and progesterone levels were also measured by AxSYM method. All these tests were performed in both follicular and late luteal phases of menstrual cycle. Data were analysed by paired student’s ‘t’ test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient test as applicable. Results: Mean resting heart rate was significantly (p<0.01) increased in late luteal phase than that of follicular phase. Mean resting systolic blood pressure was significantly (p<0.01) increased and resting diastolic blood pressure was non-significantly increased in late luteal phase than those of follicular phase. Again, significantly (p<0.05) increased value of fall of systolic blood pressure after standing from lying and non-significant increased value of rise in diastolic blood pressure after sustained handgrip were observed in late luteal phase. The mean value of serum estrogen was non-significantly and serum progesterone was significantly (p<0.001) increased in late luteal phase than those of follicular phase. Conclusion: From this study it can be concluded that sympathetic activity is increased in late luteal phase of menstrual cycle. In addition, increased sympathetic activity during late luteal phase might be the cause of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in some women.
ABSTRACT
Background: Postmenopausal women usually suffer from increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases than premenopausal women. Alterations in autonomic nerve functions often develop in this group of women that commonly affect cardiac vagal control and usually associated with sympathetic hyperactivity. Objectives: To observe the sympathetic nerve function status in postmenopausal women and their relationships with serum estrogen level. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, BSMMU, Dhaka from 1st January to 31st December 2007. A total number of 60 apparently healthy subjects of whom 30 were postmenopausal women with age ranged from 45-60 years(group B) and 30 were premenopausal women with age ranged from 20-30 years (group A) were enrolled. Premenopausal women were studied during follicular phase of menstrual cycle.Two simple autonomic nerve function tests, rise of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) during hand grip and fall of systolic blood pressure (SBP) on standing were done to assess sympathetic activity and serum estrogen level was measured in both the groups. Data were analysed by unpaired t test and Pearson correlation coefficient test. Results: Mean resting SBP and DBP were significantly higher (p<0.001) in postmenopausal women than premenopausal women. The mean value of estrogen was significantly (p<0.001) lower in group B (postmenopause) than those in group A (premenopause). Fall in systolic blood pressure after standing was significantly (p<0.001) higher and rise in diastolic blood pressure after sustained handgrip was significantly (p<0.001) lower in postmenopausal women than those in premenopausal women during their follicular phase of menstrual cycle. Again, rise in diastolic blood pressure after sustained handgrip and fall in systolic blood pressure after standing showed (p>0.05) negative correlation with estrogen level in the postmenopausal women which was statistically not significant. In addition, regression analysis further revealed significant association of sympathetic activity with estrogen level and age in postmenopausal women. Conclusion: From this study it can be concluded that sympathetic activity is higher in postmenopausal women, which may be related to their low estrogen level and age as well.