Relationship Between Parasympathetic Nerve Function and Ovarian Hormones During Different Phases of Ovarian Cycle In Healthy Young Women.

Background: Women having regular ovarian cycle often experience premenstrual syndrome which may be associated with alterations of autonomic nerve function due to fluctuation of ovarian hormones during different phases of ovarian cycle. Objective: To observe the parasympathetic nerve function status and their relationships with ovarian hormones during different phases of ovarian cycle in healthy young women. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in the department of Physiology at BSMMU, Dhaka in 2007 on 30 eumenorrhogic healthy females aged 20 to 30 years. Serum estrogen and progesterone were measured by MEIA method and parasympathetic nerve functions were assessed by valsalva, deep breathing test and orthostatic test during follicular and luteal phases of ovarian cycle. Data were analyzed by paired student ‘t’ test, and Pearson’s Correlation coefficient test where applicable. Results: Mean resting HR,SBP,DBP and all measures of parasympathetic nerve function were similar in all phases of ovarian cycle. With serum estrogen level, deep breathing showed significant (p<0.05) positive correlation in follicular and luteal phase and valsalva showed significant positive correlation during luteal phase. Conclusion: The results this study suggest that estrogen has got positive influence on parasympathetic nerve function which support cardioprotective role of estrogen in premenopausal females.