Is heart rate variability associated with experimental pain sensitivity assessed across the menstrual cycle phases?

Abstract

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a measure of autonomic control over the heart, and high resting parasympthetically mediated HRV measures have been shown to be associated with reduced pain. But, it is unclear whether the relationship between HRV and pain varies across menstrual phases. The present study examined whether HRV was associated with experimental pain sensitivity during the different phases of the menstrual cycle. Fifty-three healthy women attended 3 laboratory testing sessions during the mid-follicular, ovulatory, and late-luteal phases (testing order counterbalanced).