Fluctuation of fine motor skills throughout the menstrual cycle in women.

The effect of the menstrual cycle on fine motor skills is unclear. This study determined whether the menstrual cycle affected fine motor skills and related neural activities. Nineteen women with regular menstrual cycles were tested for fine motor skills using two types of tasks: grooved pegboard task (GPT), which evaluates motor control with high freedom of movements, and force modulation task (FMT), which evaluates more complex and fine motor control with low freedom of movements. We also assessed primary motor cortex intracortical circuits and sensorimotor integration using paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation to reveal why the menstrual cycle affects fine motor skills. The present study indicated that fine motor skills assessed by FMT varied throughout the menstrual cycle while those measured by GPT did not. These results suggest that fine motor skills requiring more complex and fine control may be affected by the menstrual cycle. Additionally, changes in fine motor skills throughout the menstrual cycle may be associated with the severity of menstruation-related symptoms.

Effect of Menstrual Cycle and Hormonal Contraception on Musculoskeletal Health and Performance: Protocol for a Prospective Cohort Design and Cross-Sectional Comparison.

BACKGROUND: Women of reproductive age experience cyclical variation in the female sex steroid hormones 17ß-estradiol and progesterone during the menstrual cycle that is attenuated by some hormonal contraceptives. Estrogens perform a primary function in sexual development and reproduction but have nonreproductive effects on bone, muscle, and sinew tissues (ie, ligaments and tendons), which may influence injury risk and physical performance. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to understand the effect of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive use on bone and calcium metabolism, and musculoskeletal health and performance. METHODS: A total of 5 cohorts of physically active women (aged 18-40 years) will be recruited to participate: eumenorrheic, nonhormonal contraceptive users (n=20); combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) users (n=20); hormonal implant users (n=20); hormonal intrauterine system users (n=20); and hormonal injection users (n=20). Participants must have been using the COCP and implant for at least 1 year and the intrauterine system and injection for at least 2 years. First-void urine samples and fasted blood samples will be collected for biochemical analysis of calcium and bone metabolism, hormones, and metabolic markers. Knee extensor and flexor strength will be measured using an isometric dynamometer, and lower limb tendon and stiffness, tone, and elasticity will be measured using a Myoton device. Functional movement will be assessed using a single-leg drop to assess the frontal plane projection angle and the qualitative assessment of single leg loading. Bone density and macro- and microstructure will be measured using ultrasound, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Skeletal material properties will be estimated from reference point indentation, performed on the flat surface of the medial tibia diaphysis. Body composition will be assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The differences in outcome measures between the hormonal contraceptive groups will be analyzed in a one-way between-group analysis of covariance. Within the eumenorrheic group, the influence of the menstrual cycle on outcome measures will be assessed using a linear mixed effects model. Within the COCP group, differences across 2 time points will be analyzed using the paired-samples 2-tailed t test. RESULTS: The research was funded in January 2020, and data collection started in January 2022, with a projected data collection completion date of August 2024. The number of participants who have consented at the point of manuscript submission is 66. It is expected that all data analysis will be completed and results published by the end of 2024. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the effects of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraception on musculoskeletal health and performance will inform contraceptive choices for physically active women to manage injury risk. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05587920; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05587920. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/50542.

Effects of Hormonal Contraception and the Menstrual Cycle on Fatigability and Recovery From an Anaerobic Exercise Test.

ABSTRACT: Cabre, HE, Ladan, AN, Moore, SR, Joniak, KE, Blue, MNM, Pietrosimone, BG, Hackney, AC, and Smith-Ryan, AE. Effects of hormonal contraception and the menstrual cycle on fatigability and recovery from an anaerobic exercise test. J Strength Cond Res 38(7): 1256-1265, 2024-This study sought to evaluate the effects of oral contraceptive (OC) and hormonal intrauterine device (H-IUD) use, compared with a eumenorrheic (EUM) cycle, on fatigability and recovery between hormone the phases. Peak power (PP), average power (AP), fatigue index (FI), blood lactate, vessel diameter, and blood flow (BF) were measured from a repeated sprint cycle test (10 × 6 seconds) in 60, healthy, active women (mean ± SD ; age: 26.5 ± 7.0 years, BMI: 22.5 ± 3.7 kg·m -2 ) who used monophasic OC (≥6 months; n = 21), had a H-IUD (≥6 months; n = 20), or had regular naturally occurring menstrual cycle (≥3 months) or had a nonhormonal IUD (EUM; n = 19). Subjects were randomly assigned to begin in either the low-hormone phase (LHP) or high-hormone phase (HHP) and were tested once in each phase. Separate univariate analyses of covariances assessed the change from HHP to LHP between the groups, covaried for progesterone, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. All groups demonstrated similar changes in PP, AP, FI, blood lactate, vessel diameter, and BF between the phases ( p > 0.05). Although not significant, AP was higher in LHP for OC (Δ -248.2 ± 1,301.4 W) and EUM (Δ -19.5 ± 977.7 W) and higher in HHP for H-IUD (Δ 369.3 ± 1,123.0 W). Oral contraceptive group exhibited a higher FI (Δ 2.0%) and reduced blood lactate clearance (Δ 2.5%) in HHP. In recreationally active women, hormonal contraception and hormone phases may minimally impact fatigue and recovery. Individual elite female athletes may benefit from understanding hormonal contraception type as performance and recovery may slightly vary across the cycle.

Bloody stressed! A systematic review of the associations between adulthood psychological stress and menstrual cycle irregularity.

Regular menstruation is a key indicator of general health and irregular menstrual parameters have been associated with elevated risk of adverse health outcomes. While psychological stress is believed to contribute to abnormal menstruation, little is known of the effects of discrete psychological stressors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on menstrual function. A systematic database search was performed and studies investigating the relation between psychological stress and menstrual cycle irregularity in otherwise healthy adults were included. Two independent investigators completed abstract and full-text screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. In the 41 included studies, a variety of stressors were assessed, namely COVID-19 pandemic stress, academic stress, and occupational stress. Our review found most studies report an association between psychological stress and menstrual dysfunction, with the most common disruptions being irregular menstruation and abnormal menstrual flow. Our findings also underlined notable discrepancies in the operational definitions used in the study of menstrual disorders. These observations emphasize the importance of psychological stress as a modifiable risk factor associated with irregular menstruation.

[Young female athletes and high-level sport]. / Jeunes femmes et sport de haut niveau.

YOUNG FEMALE ATHLETES AND HIGH LEVEL SPORT. The impact of intensive sport on the menstrual cycle varies according to the individual and the nutritional balance in relation to energy expenditure; impaired reproductive function with menstrual disturbances is an indicator of the syndrome of relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs). Raising the awareness of the female elite athlete, her sport environment, her family and the health professionals in charge of medical care enables better prevention and avoids harmful consequences on bone metabolism, reduced immunity and cardiovascular risk, among others, and the impact on endurance and resistance performance. The absence of a menstrual cycle, apart from hormonal contraception, is incompatible with the research of sport performance. Similarly, moderate to severe dysmenorrhea, heavy menstrual periods which are a source of iron-deficiency anemia, and premenstrual syndrome which interferes with training, should not be treated as a fatality or taboo subject, but should be managed by appropriate treatment and explained to the athlete to ensure care compliance.

JEUNES FEMMES ET SPORT DE HAUT NIVEAU. L'impact du sport intensif sur le cycle menstruel varie en fonction de chacune, de l'équilibre nutritionnel par rapport à la dépense énergétique ; les perturbations du cycle menstruel constituent un indicateur du syndrome de déficit énergétique relatif dans le sport (REDs). La sensibilisation de la sportive, de son environnement sportif, familial et des professionnels de santé en charge du suivi médical permet une meilleure prévention et évite notamment les conséquences néfastes sur le métabolisme osseux, la diminution de l'immunité, le risque cardiovasculaire et l'impact sur la performance en endurance et en résistance. L'absence de cycle menstruel, hors contraception hormonale, est antinomique avec la recherche de la performance. De la même façon, la dysménorrhée modérée à sévère, des règles abondantes, sources d'anémie ferriprive ou un syndrome prémenstruel gênant l'entraînement ne doivent pas être vécus comme une fatalité ou un sujet tabou, mais être pris en charge par un traitement adapté et expliqué à la sportive pour soutenir l'adhésion à la prise en charge.

Symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and cycle phase are associated with enhanced facial emotion detection: An online cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a depressive disorder affecting 5%-8% of people with menstrual cycles. Despite evidence that facial emotion detection is altered in depressive disorders, with enhanced detection of negative emotions (negativity bias), minimal research exists on premenstrual dysphoric disorder. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms and the premenstrual phase on accuracy and intensity at detection of facial emotions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional quasi-experimental design. METHOD: The Facial Emotion Detection Task was administered to 72 individuals assigned female at birth with no premenstrual dysphoric disorder (n = 30), and provisional PMDD (n = 42), based on a retrospective Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition-based measure of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Facial emotion detection was examined both irrespective of menstrual cycle phase, and as a function of premenstrual phase (yes, no). The task used neutral-to-emotional facial expression morphs (15 images/morph). Participants indicated the emotion detected for each image within the progressive intensity morph. For all six basic emotions (sad, angry, fearful, happy, disgust, and surprise), two scores were calculated: accuracy of responses and the intensity within the morph at which the correct emotion was first detected (image number). RESULTS: Individuals reporting moderate/severe symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder had more accurate and earlier detection of disgust, regardless of cycle phase. In addition, those with provisional premenstrual dysphoric disorder detected sad emotions earlier. A premenstrual dysphoric disorder group × cycle phase interaction also emerged: individuals reporting premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms were more accurate at detecting facial emotions during the premenstrual phase compared to the rest of the cycle, with a large effect size for sad emotions. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest enhanced facial emotion processing in individuals reporting symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, particularly for sadness and disgust. However, replication is required with larger samples and prospective designs. This premenstrual dysphoric disorder premenstrual emotion detection advantage suggests an adaptive cognitive mechanism in premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and challenges stigma surrounding premenstrual experiences.

Women with Severe Premenstrual Syndrome or Probable Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder are Better at Identifying Emotional Expressions on People's Faces, Especially During the Premenstrual PhasePremenstrual dysphoric disorder is a depressive disorder affecting women where they experience emotional and physical symptoms during the premenstrual phase (i.e. the week before one's period). It is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome. Research indicates that depression can affect facial emotion recognition. Accurately recognizing other people's emotions is an important skill that helps us develop social connections and keep ourselves and others safe. Quick recognition of facial emotions allows us to understand and support others, and quickly identify dangerous situations by recognizing other people's emotional responses. The goal of this study was to examine how premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms and the premenstrual phase may affect the ability of women to recognize and identify emotions on other people's faces. A total of 72 women (42 with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, 30 without premenstrual dysphoric disorder) completed the Facial Emotion Detection Task. This task measured how accurate and early the women were able to detect happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust in faces. Women with moderate/severe symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder had more accurate and earlier detection of disgust, regardless of where they were in their menstrual cycle. Women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder detected sad emotions earlier. Furthermore, women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder were more accurate at detecting facial emotions when they were tested in the premenstrual phase, and were especially more accurate in detecting sad emotions. The findings suggest that women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder are better at detecting facial emotions and show a premenstrual dysphoric disorder premenstrual emotion detection advantage. This tendency for women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder to better detect emotions in others, particularly when they are in the premenstrual cycle phase, would have benefits. As one of the first reports of a potentially beneficial effect of premenstrual syndrome for women, the findings may help decrease stigma associated with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and premenstrual syndrome. Further research is needed to replicate and extend these findings.

Clinical application and effect evaluation of acupoint thread embedding therapy and traditional Chinese medicine treatment based on menstrual cycle characteristics in the management of breast hyperplasia: An observational study.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of acupoint embedding therapy and traditional Chinese medicine dialectical treatment regimen in improving clinical symptoms, promoting tumor regression, controlling adverse reactions and complications, and enhancing patient satisfaction by comparing and analyzing the clinical data of 120 breast tumor patients. One hundred twenty patients with breast cancer were divided into a treatment group (60 cases) and a control group (60 cases) according to different treatment plans. Patients in the treatment group received a combination of acupoint embedding therapy and traditional Chinese medicine dialectical treatment based on different time points of the menstrual cycle. Including the proportion of reduction in the number of breast masses, the proportion of reduction in mass size, changes in pain severity scores, tumor regression rate, regression time, incidence of adverse reactions and complications, and patient satisfaction. Statistical software was used to analyze the data to evaluate differences between the 2 groups. In terms of clinical symptoms, the proportion of reduction in the number of breast masses in the treatment group averaged 50%, significantly higher than the 25% in the control group; the proportion of reduction in mass size averaged 40%, also higher than the 15% in the control group; and the improvement in pain severity scores was also superior to the control group. Regarding tumor regression, the tumor regression rate in the treatment group reached 85%, with an average regression time of 6.2 weeks, both significantly better than the 55% and 9.8 weeks in the control group. In terms of adverse reactions and complications, the incidence rate in the treatment group was relatively low, and no serious adverse events occurred. Patient satisfaction surveys showed that the treatment group had significantly higher satisfaction with treatment effectiveness, treatment process, and physician service attitude compared to the control group. Based on clinical data from 120 breast tumor patients, the results of this study indicate that breast tumor patients treated with a specific treatment regimen have significant advantages in improving clinical symptoms, tumor regression, controlling adverse reactions and complications, and patient satisfaction. This treatment regimen has high clinical application value and deserves further promotion.

Application of strain elastography ultrasound to the endometrium of normal women.

BACKGROUND: While there is a scarcity of studies utilizing strain elastography (SE) for the endometrium, commonly used gynecologic ultrasound instruments are equipped with built-in elastography modalities, primarily SE. With the objective of facilitating comprehensive examinations for gynecologic patients on a single ultrasound instrument, we undertook this study. Therefore, our aim was to study the value of SE ultrasonography in the assessment of endometrial elasticity in normal women. METHODS: Three hundred and twenty normal women were recruited at our hospitals from November 2021 to December 2022. Each volunteer underwent a transvaginal two-dimensional (2D) and SE ultrasound during either the endometrial proliferative or secretory phase. The 2D ultrasound indices obtained included endometrial thickness, echo type (type A, B, and C), and blood flow grading (grades 0, 1, 2, and 3). SE indices obtained included endometrial strain values, myometrial strain values, and endometrial strain ratios. Differences in endometrial ultrasound indices between different menstrual cycles and different age groups were compared. RESULTS: Comparison of 2D ultrasound parameters revealed that endometrial thickness in the proliferative phase endometrium group was smaller than that in the secretory phase endometrium group, with a statistically significant difference. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference in endometrial echo types between the two groups, while the disparity in endometrial blood flow grading was not significant. Regarding SE parameters, the median and mean values of endometrial strain ratio in the proliferative phase endometrium group were smaller than those in the secretory phase endometrium group, showing a statistically significant difference. However, there were no significant differences observed between the two groups in endometrial strain and myometrial strain in the fundus. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in any of the endometrial ultrasound indices among the different age groups. CONCLUSIONS: SE can reflect changes in endometrial stiffness in different menstrual cycles and is an important tool for assessing endometrial softness.

Anti-COVID-19 Vaccination Alters the Menstrual Cycle and Dose Accumulation Enhances the Effect.

Background and Objectives: New investigations have detected an enhanced probability for women to develop menstrual cycle alterations after anti-COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, given that the protective immunity provided by anti-COVID-19 vaccination appears to wane quickly, booster vaccination has been recommended. Nonetheless, whether adverse events arise from such repeated immunization has not been studied. Materials and Methods: We studied the incidence of menstrual cycle alterations, the quantity of menstrual cycle alterations per subject, and of altered menstrual cycles in nonpregnant women of fertile age after anti-COVID-19 vaccination in a cohort of vaccinated female subjects by the means of a standardized questionary that was applied via telephone calls each month. Subjects that received up to four doses were studied for 6 months after each dose. We calculated the odds ratio for enhanced incidence, as well as quadratic functions for the tendencies. A sensitivity analysis excluding subjects taking hormonal birth control and those with polycystic ovary syndrome was performed. Results: Anti-COVID-19 vaccination enhanced the probability to develop menstrual cycle alterations (OR 1.52, CI at 95% 1.2-1.8, p < 0.0001) and, interestingly, such a tendency was enhanced when subjects received more doses (R2 = 0.91). Furthermore, the same trends repeated for the quantity of alterations per subject, and of altered cycles. Such an effect was further demonstrated to be independent upon the vaccine brand being applied, the birth control status, and the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome. Conclusions: Vaccination is the most cost-effective measure for primary prevention and is considered to be safe. Nonetheless, in this article, we show data that suggest that repeated vaccination of adult female subjects may lead to an enhanced incidence of menstrual cycle-related adverse events, quantity of alterations per subject, and altered cycles. We therefore think that the development of new vaccine formulations that produce longer-lasting immunity is of paramount importance to reduce the potential for dose accumulation-dependent enhanced risk.

Menstrual cycle patterns and their relationship with measures of well-being and perceived performance metrics in competitive and recreational resistance-trained athletes.

BACKGROUND: There is mixed evidence on how the menstrual cycle (MC) affects sports performance, with many studies showing variations in performance during different phases of the MC, while other evidence shows that the MC's effects on performance may be trivial. Therefore, this exploratory longitudinal monitoring study was designed to investigate MC characteristics and symptoms in a resistance-trained (RT) population to look for associations between measures of well-being and perceived performance metrics across the MC. METHODS: RT females reported their workout habits, perceived performance metrics, and measures of well-being while tracking their MC with detailed methods via daily check-ins in an app. RESULTS: Most MC characteristics and symptoms in the present RT population aligned with previous research on the general population. However, the frequency of irregular cycles was higher than in previous research on the general population. The amount of individual variation and within-subject cycle-to-cycle variation in MC characteristics and MC symptoms was also high. All measures of well-being were significantly associated with specific days of the MC, demonstrating a change in well-being based on the timing of the MC. Several perceived performance metrics were significantly associated with changes across the MC, while others were not. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, with the current evidence as it stands, a highly individualized approach should be taken for any training or performance considerations surrounding the MC due to the high levels of individual variation.

Menstrual Cycle Hormone Relaxin and ACL Injuries in Female Athletes: A Systematic Review.

Background: Female athletes are at increased risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The influence of hormonal variation on female ACL injury risk remains ill-defined. Recent data suggests that the collagen-degrading menstrual hormone relaxin may cyclically impact female ACL tissue quality. This review aims to identify any correlation between menstrual relaxin peaks and rates of female ACL injury. Methods: A systematic review was performed, utilizing the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases. Included studies had to directly address relaxin/female ACL interactions. The primary outcome variable was relaxin proteolysis of the ACL, at cellular, tissue, joint, and whole-organism levels. The secondary outcome variable was any discussed method of moderating relaxin levels, and the clinical results if available. Results: AllThe numerous relaxin receptors on female ACLs upregulate local collagenolysis and suppress local collagen production. Peak serum relaxin concentrations (SRC) occur during menstrual cycle days 21-24; a time phase associated with greater risk of ACL injury. Oral contraceptives (OCPs) reduce SRC, with a potential ACLprotective effect. Conclusion: A reasonable correlative and plausible causative relationship exists between peak relaxin levels and increased risk of ACL injury in females, and further investigation is warranted. Level of Evidence: III.

The effect of gender and menstrual cycle phase on patients undergoing impacted third molar surgery: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Achieving the best outcomes in surgical procedures requires optimizing all patient-related psychological and physiological factors. This study was carried out to evaluate the preoperative anxiety and fear levels, and postoperative symptoms in patients undergoing impacted third molar surgery, and to compare the relevant psychological and physical findings between genders and between women in different menstrual cycle phases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The population of this prospective and clinical study consisted of patients who applied to faculty of dentistry for the extraction of impacted third molars. The menstrual cycles of the female patients included in the study ranged from 26 to 32 days. The female patients included in the study were divided into three groups according to the first day of the menstrual cycle and bleeding status. All patients were administered Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Short Version (STAI-S), Dental Fear Survey (DFS), Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) preoperatively, and postoperative satisfaction and complication questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean age of the 128 patients included in the study was 27.04±4.62 years. Of these patients, 79 (61.7%) were female and 49 (38.3%) were male. Female patients had significantly higher STAI-S, MDAS and DFS scores than male patients (94 vs. 53; 16 vs. 9; 58 vs. 27; p<0.001, respectively). In parallel, female patients had significantly higher complication rates, thus significantly lower satisfaction levels than male patients (116 vs. 51; 40 vs. 13; p<0.001, respectively). STAI-S, MDAS and DFS scores were high in women during the secretory phase (p<0.001). In the secretory phase, complications were high and satisfaction was low (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study reveal that women have a harder time getting through the operation process and that timing is important in reducing preoperative anxiety and fear levels and increasing postoperative satisfaction levels and complication rates.

Menstrual cycle disorders as an early symptom of energy deficiency among female physique athletes assessed using the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q).

Physique competitions are weight-sensitive sports in which stage presentation, aesthetic appearance and posing ability of the athletes are judged rather than physical performance. The aim of this study was to assess low energy availability among female physique athletes by using the LEAF-Q. The study involved 104 females who were physique athletes. Monthly cycle disorders were reported in 58.65% of the women, that is periods stopped for three consecutive months or longer (amenorrhea). This situation occurred before the research was conducted in 43.27% of athletes and during the research in 15.38%. The physique athletes claimed that menstruation changes occurred when there was an increased exercise intensity, frequency or duration. Absence from training due to injury was reported by 27.88% of the women. The LEAF-Q identified 46.15% of the physique athletes as at risk (score ≥ 8) of low energy availability and the physiological consequences related to RED-S. Women who had menstrual cycle disorders were younger and did more training per week. Among women with menstrual disorders, cramps or stomach ache which cannot be related to menstruation occurred more frequently (p = 0.004). Absence from training or lack of participation in competition due to injuries occurred more frequently in the score ≥ 8 group (p = 0.024) thank the ≤ score 8 group. In the score ≥ 8 group menstruation changes, that is less bleeding or cessation of menstruation (p = 0.035), occurred more frequently when there was an increase in exercise intensity, frequency or duration (p = 0.002).

PACAP-38 and sex hormones in women with migraine: exploratory analysis of a cross-sectional, matched cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Endogeneous and exogeneous sex hormones can impact the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the relationship between female sex hormones and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide-38 (PACAP-38) concentrations in plasma of women with migraine and healthy controls, aiming to elucidate potential hormonal influences on PACAP dynamics and their relevance to migraine pathophysiology. METHODS: This analysis is part of a cross-sectional, matched-cohort study. We recruited two groups of women with episodic migraine: one with a regular menstrual cycle (M-RMC) and another undergoing combined oral contraceptive treatment (M-COC). Additionally, we included corresponding age-matched control groups without migraine for both categories (C-RMC and C-COC). For participants with a RMC, the study visits were scheduled during the perimenstrual period (menstrual cycle day 2 ± 2) and periovulatory period (day 13 ± 2). Participants using COC were examined at day 4 ± 2 of the hormone-free interval and between day 7-14 of the hormone intake phase. During these visits, PACAP-38 concentrations in plasma were measured using a commercial Enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. RESULTS: The study included 120 women, with 30 participants in each group. Women with migraine and a RMC had significantly higher PACAP-38 plasma concentrations compared to healthy controls at both study visits [day 2 ± 2: M-RMC: 2547.41 pg/ml (IQR 814.27 - 4473.48) vs. C-RMC: 1129.49 pg/ml (IQR 257.34 - 2684.88), p = 0.025; day 13 ± 2: M-RMC: 3098.89 pg/ml (IQR 1186.29 - 4379.47) vs. C-RMC: 1626.89 (IQR 383.83 - 3038.36), p = 0.028]. In contrast, PACAP-38 levels were comparable between migraine and control groups receiving COC. Women with migraine and a RMC exhibited higher PACAP-38 concentrations during menstruation compared to those using COC during the hormone-free interval. CONCLUSION: Systemic PACAP-38 concentrations in women vary based on the presence of migraine diagnosis and their hormonal status.

Longitudinal associations between women's cycle characteristics and sexual motivation using Flo cycle tracking data.

In the current research, we used data from a sample of 16,327 menstrual cycle tracking app users to examine the association between menstrual cycle characteristics and sexual motivation tracked over 10 months of app use. Guided by past work that finds links between menstrual cycle characteristics related to conception risk and sexual motivation, we found that (a) between-women, shorter (r = - 0.04, p = 0.007), more regular cycles predicted small increases in sexual motivation (r = - 0.04, p = 0.001); (b) within-women, shorter cycles predicted greater sexual motivation that month (r = - 0.04, p < 0.001) and (c) the next month (ßs: - 0.10 to - 0.06, ps < 0.001), but (d) changes in sexual motivation did not reliably precede changes in cycle length (ßs: - 0.01 to 0.02, ps > 0.15). Within-woman analyses also revealed that (e) shorter cycles were followed by more frequent reports of fatigue (ß = - 0.06, p < 0.001), insomnia (ß = - 0.03, p < 0.001), and food cravings (ß = - 0.04, p < 0.001). Together, results suggest that menstrual cycles characteristics and sexual motivation may covary together in ways that reflect changing investments in reproduction. Small effect sizes and lack of experimental control warrant cautious interpretations of results.

Preliminary investigation into long-term stress by isolated captivity-related changes of reproduction hormones in Cynomolgus monkey.

BACKGROUND: Stress profoundly affects physical and emotional well-being, extending its physiological influence to the female menstrual cycle, impeding the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and affecting fertility by suppressing sex-stimulating hormones. METHODS: In this study, we meticulously analyzed menstrual cycles and corresponding hormonal fluctuations in three female Cynomolgus monkeys. RESULTS: The preliminary findings indicated lower-than-normal levels of cortisol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol. Anovulatory bleeding occurred in one monkey, which could be linked to stress. In contrast to cortisol, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which is correlated to cortisol levels, was consistently elevated in menstruating monkeys, suggesting its potential as a stress indicator. The non-menstruating group exhibited stress-related weight loss, emphasizing the observed ALP trends. CONCLUSIONS: Non-menstruating monkeys may experience more stress than menstruating monkeys. The implications of this study extend beyond the confines of primate studies and offer a valuable method for enhancing the welfare of female Cynomolgus monkeys.

Progesterone concentrations on blastocyst transfer day in modified natural cycle frozen embryo transfer cycles.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Are serum progesterone concentrations on the day of modified natural cycle (mNC) frozen blastocyst transfer (FET) without luteal phase support (LPS) associated with clinical pregnancy rate (CPR)? DESIGN: Data were collected between January 2019 and October 2022 as a sub-study of an ongoing randomized controlled trial assessing pregnancy outcomes in mNC-FET. The sub-study included all women (n = 209) randomized to mNC-FET without LPS at the time of data extraction. Participants were aged 18-41 years, had regular menstrual cycles and underwent mNC-FET treatment with single-blastocyst transfer. Associations between the serum progesterone concentration on the day of blastocyst transfer and CPR, pregnancy rate and pregnancy loss rate (PLR) were examined between groups with low and higher progesterone concentrations using the 25th and 10th percentiles as cut-offs. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to adjust for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Progesterone concentrations on the day of blastocyst transfer in mNC-FET without LPS ranged from 4.9 to 91.8 nmol/l, with the 25th and 10th percentiles at 29.0 nmol/l and 22.5 nmol/l, respectively. Serum progesterone concentrations did not differ between women with or without a clinical pregnancy (mean [SD] 38.5 [14.0] versus 36.8 [12.4] nmol/l; P = 0.350). Furthermore, the CPR, pregancy rate and PLR were similar in women with low or high progesterone concentrations when using the 25th or the 10th progesterone percentile as cut-off. Multivariate regression analyses showed no association between progesterone concentrations and CPR. CONCLUSIONS: No association was found between progesterone concentration on the day of blastocyst transfer and pregnancy outcome in women undergoing mNC-FET without progesterone LPS.

Impact of symptoms, experiences, and perceptions of the menstrual cycle on recreational physical activity of cyclically menstruating individuals: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The menstrual cycle often presents barriers to participation in daily life activities, including physical activity (PA), which is a cornerstone of health and well-being. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore and summarize the impact of symptoms, experiences, and perceptions of the menstrual cycle on recreational PA (RPA), including sports, exercise and active recreation, in the general population. METHODS: Six databases were searched for studies that investigated the impact of the menstrual cycle on PA among individuals who were cyclically menstruating, healthy, and not involved in professional sports training. RESULTS: The search yielded 3025 studies that were screened for relevance and eligibility, resulting in 25 eligible studies, which were found to be of moderate-to-high quality following a quality and risk-of-bias assessment. Thematic synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data from the selected studies, constituting 16,557 adults and 3715 adolescents, identified the impact of menstrual symptoms on the physical and psychological capability to participate in RPA, social opportunity barriers to RPA (e.g., social pressure due to the sociocultural taboo against menstruation), as well reflective (knowledge) and automatic (habit) motivation on RPA behaviours. CONCLUSION: The variability in menstrual symptoms and corresponding experiences suggested the need for an individualized approach to RPA promotion. Furthermore, this review highlighted the need to address the sociocultural taboo against menstruation, as well as improve the provision of knowledge and resources related to the menstrual cycle and RPA, in order to promote and facilitate RPA for cyclically menstruating individuals throughout the menstrual cycle.

Background Breast Parenchymal Signal During Menstrual Cycle on Diffusion-Weighted MRI: A Prospective Study in Healthy Premenopausal Women.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively investigate the influence of the menstrual cycle on the background parenchymal signal (BPS) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the breast on diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) in healthy premenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven healthy premenopausal women (median age, 37 years; range, 33-49 years) with regular menstrual cycles participated in this study. DW-MRI was performed during each of the four phases of the menstrual cycle (four examinations in total). Three radiologists independently assessed the BPS visual grade on images with b-values of 800 sec/mm² (b800), 1200 sec/mm² (b1200), and a synthetic 1500 sec/mm² (sb1500). Additionally, one radiologist conducted a quantitative analysis to measure the BPS volume (%) and ADC values of the BPS (ADCBPS) and fibroglandular tissue (ADCFGT). Changes in the visual grade, BPS volume (%), ADCBPS, and ADCFGT during the menstrual cycle were descriptively analyzed. RESULTS: The visual grade of BPS in seven women varied from mild to marked on b800 and from minimal to moderate on b1200 and sb1500. As the b-value increased, the visual grade of BPS decreased. On b800 and sb1500, two of the seven volunteers showed the highest visual grade in the early follicular phase (EFP). On b1200, three of the seven volunteers showed the highest visual grades in EFP. The BPS volume (%) on b800 and b1200 showed the highest value in three of the six volunteers with dense breasts in EFP. Three of the seven volunteers showed the lowest ADCBPS in the EFP. Four of the seven volunteers showed the highest ADCBPS in the early luteal phase (ELP) and the lowest ADCFGT in the late follicular phase (LFP). CONCLUSION: Most volunteers did not exhibit specific BPS patterns during their menstrual cycles. However, the highest BPS and lowest ADCBPS were more frequently observed in EFP than in the other menstrual cycle phases, whereas the highest ADCBPS was more common in ELP. The lowest ADCFGT was more frequent in LFP.