Comparative study of volumetric changes in body parameters and in respiratory system using computerized spirometer in teenage girls before and after menstruation

ABSTRACTBackgroundMenstruation is a cyclic event with endometrial sloughing and shedding due to the effect of hormones produced by the hypothalamo pituitary ovarian axis (also termed as the HPO axis). From the hypothalamus GnRH is released in pulses, to the anterior pituitary, stimulating the gonadotrophs, which inturn synthesize, store and secrete gonadotropins FSH and LH and stimulate the gonads to synthesize and secrete sex steroids. Aim The aim of this study is to compare and find out the variations in body weight, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and the volumetric changes in the respiratory system pre and post menstrually in teenage girls. Methods The test was performed using computerized spirometry in two different phases of the menstrual cycle the follicular phase(FP) and the luteal phase(LP). The study variables were weight(Wt),heart rate(HR),respiratory rate(RR),blood pressure(BP), forced expiratory volume(FEV1),forced vital capacity( FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV1FVC) values. The details on the menstrual history of the subject for its regularity were collected. Those with regular cycles were examined and the body parameters and the flow volume curve using computerised spirometry was obtained in the late luteal phase and in the early proliferative phase during the premenstrual and in the postmenstrual phases.Results The results were compared for body parameters, FVC, FEV1, (FEV1FVC) between the premenstrual and the post menstrual values. The mean body weight value obtained in the premenstrual period was 58.977.85 and the value in the postmenstrual period was 56.286.46.This difference is considered to be statistically significant. The differences in body weight, HR, RR, BP, FEV1, FVC, FEV1FVC were found to be significant with the p-value 0.05. Conclusion This study showed that in the luteal phase, the respiratory effort was high and FEV1 showed better values and is due to progesterone which produces a reflex hypoxic drive. The expiratory effort, inspiratory effort were maximal in the luteal phase with the presence of hypocapnia. The amount of FEV1FVC calculated was more in the premenstrual period(the late luteal phase), by using the computerized spirometry, when compared with the postmenstrual period(the early proliferative phase).