A Correlative Study on Blood Pressure and Lung Function Profiles during Different Phases of Menstrual Cycle among Indian Population

Hormonal changes associated with menstrual cycle are known to affect different organ systems. Fluctuation in the ovarian hormones during different phases of menstrual cycle – menstrual, follicular, and luteal phases may affect the cardiovascular and respiratory function in young healthy women. Seventy-five healthy Indian female subjects, 18-25 years old, from in and around Mangalore district were selected based on inclusion/exclusion criterion. Blood pressure recording and lung function parameters like forced expiratory volume (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and forced vital capacity (FVC) were recorded by standard procedures during the 3 different phases of menstrual cycle and repeated to a successive second time. Blood pressure did not show any significant change during the different phases of menstrual cycle. FEV1, PEFR, and FVC significantly increased (P<0.05) during the luteal phase. This study suggests that arterial blood pressure does not significantly fluctuate during different phases of menstrual cycle whereas different lung function profiles significantly increase during the luteal phase in healthy young Indian women.