EVALUATION OF HEMATOLOGICAL AND PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST PARAMETERS IN DIFFERENT PHASES OF MENSTRUAL CYCLE IN RURAL SOUTH INDIAN POPULATION

Abstract

Menstrual cycle is a physiological process that occurs in women. It is characterized by periodic vaginal bleeding due to shedding of uterine mucosa. This has its own effect on various systems and metabolisms. This study was attempted to understand the variations in hematological and respiratory parameters in different phases of menstrual cycle. The present study was conducted on 50 healthy female volunteers within the age group of 18 to 23 years having regular menstrual cycle of 28±3 days from the rural area of Chennai, South India. We analyzed various hematological parameters and pulmonary function parameters on three different phases of menstrual cycle (Menstrual phase-2nd day, Proliferative phase -12th day & Secretory phase-22nd day). The study reveals that there is an increase in total leucocyte count, absolute eosinophil count, and platelet count in secretory phase (P< 0.001). Neutrophil count is increased in secretory phase, when compared to proliferative phase and menstrual phase. There was a marked increase in lymphocyte count in all the three phases. No significant changes in eosinophil, monocyte, basophil counts (p<0.005).In Pulmonary function test parameters PEFR has not shown any significant difference. FEV1 and FVC were increased in mid secretory phase, FEV1/FVC ratio is higher in mid Secretory phase. This study was a moderate attempt to determine regular variations in different hematological and pulmonary function parameters, during different phases of menstrual cycle in normal healthy females and evaluate various conflicting reports on female subjects.