Abstract :
Introduction: Heart Rate Variability analysis has gained much importance in recent years, as a technique
employed to explore the activity of autonomic nervous system (ANS), and as an important early marker for
identifying different pathological conditions. Autonomic nervous activities fluctuate during the menstrual
cycle.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare and evaluate the changes in the ANS
activity measured by the frequency domain analysis during different phases of menstrual cycle.
Materials and Methods: The subjects consisted of 50 healthy adult females aged 22-40 years who had
regular menstrual cycles. The electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings were taken during the different phases
of the menstrual cycle. Heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed by means of two main frequency
components that is the low frequency (LF) and the high frequency (HF) components using appropriate
software. Heart rate (HR) and blood pr essure (BP) were also recorded.
Results: In the frequency domain analysis, the low frequency component (LF) was significantly higher
(p in follicular phase. The LF/HF ratio was significantly greater in (p follicular and menstrual phases (p and minimum in the follicular phase. Blood pressure (BP) did not show any significant change during
different phases of menstrual cycle.
Conclusion: These findings indicate that sympathetic nervous activity in the luteal phase is greater than
in the follicular phase, whereas parasympathetic nervous activity is predominant in the follicular phase.
Keyword :
Heart rate variability, Menstrual cycle, Frequency domain analysis, Autonomic nervous system.