Does Premenstrual Syndrome induce changes in the

Autonomic Nervous System?

Javairia Ayyub, Sailaja Nandennagari, Nkiruka Lauretta Nwangene, and Rabia Arafah
Caribbean Medical University School of Medicine, Curacao
Avalon University School of Medicine, Curacao
Oceania University Of Medical School, Philippines

BACKGROUND DATA ANALYSIS CONCLUSION

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is an assortment of Regular menstrual cycles signify that essential parts of the
Systolic Blood Pressure
cyclic physical and emotional symptoms female body are usually working. Premenstrual symptoms
associated with the late luteal phase of a woman's (PMS) are sometimes experienced in females showing
Measurement of Systolic Blood Pressure physical, behavioral, and emotional symptoms. This study
menstrual cycle. This study examines correlation 120
was done on 35 participants, five of whom were excluded
between PMS and autonomic nervous system due to health reasons. Although no pathological changes
(ANS) changes, central integrative mechanisms 115
were found, changes in the physical, behavioral, and
(cognitive and motor), and cognitive function. Data emotional states were found. Most women of childbearing
was analyzed to evaluate the presence and 110 age experience a regular recurrence of various symptoms
Luteal Phase
in the late luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. During the
Follicular Phase

severity of PMS and correlated bodily changes.

participants’ luteal and follicular phases, the changes in the
OBJECTIVE
105
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ANS were observed across a wide variety of tests.
Measurement Regardless of the presence of the PMS, subjects had
The objective of this research is to determine changes in the ANS before and after their menstruation
whether PMS induces ANS changes. cycle. Therefore, the study proves that the association
Diastolic Blood Pressure
MATERIALS & METHOD between PMS and changes to the ANS is weak.
80
Measurement of Diastolic Blood Pressure

78
The following is the list of materials used during the study:
couches, questionnaires, weight scales, measuring tapes, 76
EKGs, and sphygmomanometers.
Twenty females from Bonaire (Caribbean Island) and 15 74 Limitations of the Study
females from Curacao (Caribbean Island) aged between 19-
50 years old were enrolled in the study. All participants were 72

allied two times, a few days prior to the beginning of their Small sample size
Differences in diet and physical activity among the
70
respective menstruation cycles and immediately after the Follicular Phase
Luteal Phase
cessation of their menstrual cycle. Data on participants' blood 68 participants
pressure, heart rate, weight, height, and circumference of the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Lack of attendance due to financial situation of participants
waist and ankles were collected. Vital signs, including blood Measurement
pressure and heart rate, were documented in various
scenarios including rest, with a hand grip, and while standing.
Participants were also asked to fill out the following three Heart Rate Keywords: Premenstrual symptoms (PMS), Autonomic
surveys: The Daily Rating Scale, Anxiety Scale, and
100
nervous system (ANS) Luteal phase, follicular phase etc.
Depression Scale. Data from the questionnaire surveys were
analyzed using a paired t-test, and heart rate and blood
pressure were analyzed using an ANOVA test. Results
95
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
STATEMENT
Mean of Heart Rate

collected during pre-menstruation and post-menstruation 90

periods were then compared. SPSS 11.0 program is used for
statistical data analysis. All data are expressed as mean ± 85
The authors have no conflict of interest to declare
Standard Error. Regarding the parameters of symptoms with
menstrual cycles and other clinical features, the ANOVA test
using post hoc Tukey's test was used for comparisons
80

Luteal Phase Follicular Phase

Acknowledgements
between groups and paired t-test for within-group 75
Thanks to Dr. Branka for guiding us throughout the
comparisons. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically
significant. 70 research study, to Dr. Mirjana & Dr. Davidson for always
providing us access to the Lab, to Dr. Dusic for helping us
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Measurement
RESULTS with the statistical tests, and most of all to the participants,
without whom, this study would be impossible.
The statistically significant changes were observed Waist Circumference
in average systolic blood pressure, SBP (fig: 1), 100
diastolic blood pressure, DBP (fig:2), heart rate, HR
REFERENCES
90
(fig: 3), the circumference of the waist & ankle (fig: Mean: ≈ 0.27
WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE IN CM

80
4) and individual's weight (fig: 5) during luteal and
70 1.Matsumoto, T., Ushiroyama, T., Kimura, T., Hayashi, T., &
the follicular phases. The mean waist measurement Moritani, T. (2007). Altered autonomic nervous system activity as a
of the 30 participants during the luteal phase and 60
potential etiological factor of premenstrual syndrome and
follicular was 90.00 and 88.73 cm, respectively 50
premenstrual dysphoric disorder. BioPsychoSocial Medicine, 1(1),
(fig:4), and the same with ankle measurement as 40
24. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0759-1-24
well to an increase of 0.1 cm during the luteal phase 30 2.Johnson, S. R. (1987). The Epidemiology and Social Impact of
indicating participants were experiencing an 20 Premenstrual Symptoms. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology,
increase in fluid retention because of progesterone 10
30(2), 367–376. https://doi.org/10.1097/00003081-198706000-
on waist and ankle size. The difference in weight Luteal Follicular 00017
PHASES 3.Yoon, S., Cohen, B., Cato, K. D., Liu, J., & Larson, E. L. (2016).
noted on average was 0.26 kg higher during the
Visualization of Data Regarding Infections Using Eye Tracking
luteal phase (fig: 5). With no exception, the overall
Length Techniques. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 48(3), 244–253.
data indicates that participants were experiencing 80 https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12204
increased physiological symptoms during their luteal 4.GUZE, S. B. (1995). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
n
phase. At the same time, height stayed constant for 70 Mea : ≈ 0.26
Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV). American Journal of Psychiatry,
all the participants. Participants' weight was also 60 152(8), 1228–1228. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.152.8.1228
increased during the luteal phase. The exact 5.Kick PMS bloat to the curb. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved
WEIGHT IN KGS

similarity was elicited in the questionnaires 50 December 28, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-
completed by each participant as well during each lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/water-retention/art-20044983
40
individual's luteal and follicular phases supporting 6.White, C. P., Hitchcock, C. L., Vigna, Y. M., & Prior, J. C. (2011).
Fluid Retention over the Menstrual Cycle: 1-Year Data from the
the fact that there are increased behavioral and 30
Prospective Ovulation Cohort. Obstetrics and Gynecology
emotional symptoms experienced by participants 20 International, 2011, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/138451
during the luteal phase. 7.Gudipally, P. R., & Sharma, G. K. (2021). Premenstrual
10
Luteal Follicular
Syndrome. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing.
PHASES https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560698/