Reduced parasympathetic activity during sleep in the symptomatic phase of severe premenstrual syndrome

Abstract

Objective-Severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common, distressing disorder in women that manifests during the premenstrual (late-luteal) phase of the ovulatory menstrual cycle. There is some evidence that altered autonomic function may be an important component of PMS but few studies have used heart rate variability (HRV), as a sensitive marker of autonomic activity, in severe PMS and findings are conflicting.Methods-We investigated HRV during sleep, a state relatively free of external disruptions, in nine women with severe PMS and twelve controls.Results-The normal-to-normal (NN) RR-interval was shorter during the sleep period in women with PMS than in controls in both the follicular and late-luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. The standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDNN), a measure of total variability in the inter-beat interval, was lower during the sleep period in the late-luteal phase than in the follicular phase in women with PMS. The square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent NN intervals (rMSSD), a measure reflecting high frequency activity, showed a similar pattern. High frequency power, a marker of parasympathetic activity, was lower during non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) and REM sleep in the late-luteal phase than in the follicular phase in women with severe PMS. Controls had a shorter NN-interval, but similar HRV measures, in the late-luteal phase compared with the follicular phase.Conclusion-These results suggest that women with severe PMS have decreased parasympathetic activity during sleep in association with their premenstrual symptoms compared to when they are symptom-free.

Effects of Olfactory Stimulation from the Fragrance of the Japanese Citrus Fruit Yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) on Mood States and Salivary Chromogranin A as an Endocrinologic Stress Marker

“…Menstrual cycle-related discomfort, such as premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, influences the autonomic nervous system. 17,[19][20][21] However, scores from the menstrual distress questionnaire 22 the participants had answered in the follicular (the fifth to the 11th day from the first day of menstruation) and the late-luteal phase (within 7 days before the next menstruation) revealed that none of the participants had premenstrual disorders. The medical examination and interview further clarified that no participants had any other gynecologic or psychiatric disorders.…”

Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Premenstrual Syndrome Through Compliance to Treatment in an Iranian Sample

“…However, sometimes, it may be associated with other signs, causing physical and mental problems for women. This kind of physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that appear before menstruation and disappear at the beginning of the menstruation period is called premenstrual syndrome [1].…”

“…Some studies proposed a possible role of the automatic nervous system in its pathology and it was reported that women with PMDD have a higher level of no epinephrine compared to that of normal women [1].…”

“…However, non-pharmaceutical strategies should be considered as the first solution for different kinds of mild premenstrual syndrome [15]. Many authors, including Kirkby (1994), Christensen (1995), Blaker et al (1998) [1], Haynes et al (1998) [13], Navabinejad and Davoodvandi [16] and Davoodvandi [6] (2011) considered cognitivebehavioral therapy as one the most eligible treatments for premenstrual syndrome. Others, such as Feldman (2007), Dugas (2003), Hoffman (2007), and Marlatt at c (2007) believe that cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of those emotional and physical disorders accompanying with symptoms with premenstrual syndrome (e.g., pain and anxiety) played a key role in proposing a theoretical framework for the treatment of the premenstrual syndrome [14].…”

Comparative Analysis of Heart Rate Variability During Different Phases of Menstrual Cycle in Eumenorrhea & Dysmenorrhea Subjects

“…Study by F.C. Baker et al showed significant reduction in parasympathetic activity during sleep in women with severe PMS in the late-luteal phase of menstrual cycle [1].…”