Variation in pulmonary function tests parameters in different phases of menstrual cycle in healthy female medical students

Abstract

Background: Menstrual cycle is a physiological process that occurs in women. It is characterized by periodic vaginal bleeding owing to the shedding of uterine mucosa, which has its own effect on various systems and metabolisms. Aims and Objective: To understand the variations in respiratory parameters in different phases of the menstrual cycle. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on the selected female medical students of MLN Medical College, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Fifty-five healthy female volunteers within the age group of 18–24 years who revealed a regular menstrual cycle of 28 ± 3 days were selected. We analyzed various pulmonary function parameters on three different phases of menstrual cycle (menstrual phase, 2nd day; proliferative phase, 12th day; and secretory phase, 22nd day). Result: In pulmonary function tests parameters, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) increased in the mid-secretory phase (p < 0.001); FEV1/FVC ratio was higher in the mid-secretory phase (p = 0. 026); and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was also higher in the secretory phase (p = 0.001). These values were the lowest in menstrual phase and lower in the proliferative phase when compared with the secretory phase. Conclusion: This study was a moderate attempt to determine the regular variations in different pulmonary function tests parameters, during different phases of menstrual cycle in normal healthy female subjects and evaluate various conflicting reports on female subjects.