Effect of the menstrual cycle on pain experience associated with periodontal therapy: randomized, pilot study

• Published in: Journal of clinical periodontology 2005-11, Vol.32 (11), p.1170-1174
• Main Authors: Ozçaka, Ozgün, Biçakçi, Nurgün, Köse, Timur
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesia, Dental; Chronic Disease; Debridement - adverse effects; Dental Anxiety - physiopathology; Dental Anxiety - psychology; Dentistry; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Humans; Menstrual Cycle - physiology; Menstrual Cycle - psychology; Middle Aged; Pain - physiopathology; Pain - psychology; Pain Measurement - psychology; Perception - physiology; Periodontal Diseases - therapy; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0303-6979; 1600-051X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2005.00841.x

The aim of this pilot cross-over study was to compare preliminarily the pain perception of female patients undergoing periodontal debridement during menstrual or pre-menstrual phases (peri-menstrual period) with that observed during mid-menstrual phase (post-menstrual period). Twenty women with moderate-to-advanced chronic periodontitis and regular menstrual cycles were asked to complete Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) during the first debridement visit. Patients were randomly assigned to receive their first debridement visit during either their peri-menstrual or post-menstrual period. Debridement was performed in bilateral quadrants of patients during the periods. Pain levels for each quadrant were assessed with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), after each debridement visit. There was no significant correlation of order of treatment in the intensity of perceived pain during the periods (p