Biomaterial Database

Cardiovascular stress reactivity and mood during the menstrual cycle. 1990

G Weidner, and L Helmig

Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794.

This study examined blood pressure and heart rate responses to a mental arithmetic task in a sample of 16 regularly menstruating women during the follicular (postmenstrual) and luteal (premenstrual) phases of their menstrual cycles. Self-reports of physical and psychological symptoms (mood) were obtained prior to testing. A control group of men was matched to the women with regard to age and yoked to the women's cycle phases. Both women and men were told the study involved "phases of the moon" in order to eliminate subjects' awareness of participating in a biological cycle study. Consistent with prior studies that have eliminated women's awareness of taking part in a study on menstrual phases, no phase differences in mood were evident nor did the women's mood ratings differ from those of men's. In addition, there were no phase differences in blood pressure and heart rate reactivity. These findings suggest that hormonal variations characteristic of the luteal and follicular phases do not assert an influence on common assessments of cardiovascular stress reactivity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008183	Luteal Phase	The period in the MENSTRUAL CYCLE that follows OVULATION, characterized by the development of CORPUS LUTEUM, increase in PROGESTERONE production by the OVARY and secretion by the glandular epithelium of the ENDOMETRIUM. The luteal phase begins with ovulation and ends with the onset of MENSTRUATION.	Menstrual Cycle, Luteal Phase,Menstrual Cycle, Secretory Phase,Menstrual Secretory Phase,Postovulatory Phase,Phase, Luteal,Phase, Postovulatory,Secretory Phase, Menstrual
D008297	Male		Males
D008597	Menstrual Cycle	The period from onset of one menstrual bleeding (MENSTRUATION) to the next in an ovulating woman or female primate. The menstrual cycle is regulated by endocrine interactions of the HYPOTHALAMUS; the PITUITARY GLAND; the ovaries; and the genital tract. The menstrual cycle is divided by OVULATION into two phases. Based on the endocrine status of the OVARY, there is a FOLLICULAR PHASE and a LUTEAL PHASE. Based on the response in the ENDOMETRIUM, the menstrual cycle is divided into a proliferative and a secretory phase.	Endometrial Cycle,Ovarian Cycle,Cycle, Endometrial,Cycle, Menstrual,Cycle, Ovarian,Cycles, Endometrial,Cycles, Menstrual,Cycles, Ovarian,Endometrial Cycles,Menstrual Cycles,Ovarian Cycles
D008606	Mental Processes	Conceptual functions or thinking in all its forms.	Information Processing, Human,Human Information Processing
D001794	Blood Pressure	PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS.	Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D005260	Female		Females
D005498	Follicular Phase	The period of the MENSTRUAL CYCLE representing follicular growth, increase in ovarian estrogen (ESTROGENS) production, and epithelial proliferation of the ENDOMETRIUM. Follicular phase begins with the onset of MENSTRUATION and ends with OVULATION.	Menstrual Cycle, Follicular Phase,Menstrual Cycle, Proliferative Phase,Menstrual Proliferative Phase,Preovulatory Phase,Phase, Follicular,Phase, Menstrual Proliferative,Phase, Preovulatory,Proliferative Phase, Menstrual
D006339	Heart Rate	The number of times the HEART VENTRICLES contract per unit of time, usually per minute.	Cardiac Rate,Chronotropism, Cardiac,Heart Rate Control,Heartbeat,Pulse Rate,Cardiac Chronotropy,Cardiac Chronotropism,Cardiac Rates,Chronotropy, Cardiac,Control, Heart Rate,Heart Rates,Heartbeats,Pulse Rates,Rate Control, Heart,Rate, Cardiac,Rate, Heart,Rate, Pulse
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults