Jebmh.com Original Article J. Evid. Based Med. Healthc., pISSN- 2349-2562, eISSN- 2349-2570/ Vol. 3/Issue 66/Aug. 18, 2016 Page 3561 A STUDY OF SYMPATHETIC FUNCTION TESTS DURING NORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLE IN YOUNG FEMALES IN THE AGE GROUP OF 18-25 YEARS Aparajita Chakraborty 1 , Shrabani Barman 2 , Jyotismita Deka 3 1 3 rd Year Postgraduate, Department of Physiology, Silchar Medical College & Hospital. 2 Professor & HOD, Department of Physiology, Silchar Medical College & Hospital. 3 Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Silchar Medical College & Hospital. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND The menstrual cycle is not only a monthly cycle involving endometrial and cervical changes, but also is associated with many physical, psychological and behavioural changes. AIMS The study we have undertaken here was conducted to assess the blood pressure changes in response to isometric hand grip exercise test, cold pressor test and postural challenge test during the three different phases of the menstrual cycle in normal healthy females. SETTINGS AND DESIGN The present study was a cross-sectional study involving a study group of thirty healthy females. The tests were done in Department of Physiology, Silchar Medical College & Hospital. METHODS AND MATERIALS We randomly selected thirty healthy young girls in the age group of 18-25 years for our study. The resting blood pressure was recorded and the cardiovascular sympathetic function tests performed were Isometric handgrip exercise test, cold pressor test and postural challenge test. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED Statistical analysis was obtained by using ANOVA and paired-t test techniques. SPSS 18.0 and MS Excel software were used to perform the analysis. RESULTS Secretory (luteal) phase presented with a significant increase in the resting systolic blood pressure (119.1±4.41) and diastolic blood pressure (74.43±4.26), as compared to menstrual phase (SBP 116.11±4.23 & DBP 72.13±3.44) and proliferative (Follicular) phase (SBP 110.23±4.46 & DBP 69.13±3.13). This shows a sympathetic hyperactivity in luteal phase (p<0.05). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure also showed significant increase (p<0.05) in response to three tests. 1. Isometric handgrip exercise, 2. Cold pressor tests and 3. Postural challenge test, during their luteal phase as compared to the other two phases of menstrual cycle. CONCLUSION Our study shows that sympathetic activity is highest during luteal phase and lowest in the follicular phase as compared to the menstrual phase. KEYWORDS Follicular Phase, Luteal Phase, Sympathetic Function Tests, Menstrual Cycle. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Chakraborty A, Barman S, Deka J.A study of sympathetic function tests during normal menstrual cycle in young females in the age group of 18-25 years. J. Evid. Based Med. Healthc. 2016; 3(66), 3561-3566. DOI:10.18410/jebmh/2016/764 INTRODUCTION: The menstrual cycle apart from being a cycle of monthly periods involving endometrial and cervical changes, also is associated with many physical, psychological and behavioural changes. It is purely a neurohormonal cycle controlled by hypothalamo-pituitary- ovarian axis. 1 The cyclical hormonal changes include firstly a phase of oestrogen, the follicular phase which is influenced by follicular stimulating hormone, secondly a phase of progesterone called the luteal phase which is influenced both by follicular stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone and thirdly the menstrual phase which is due to the withdrawal of hormonal effect on endometrium. 2 It is reported that these hormonal Financial or Other, Competing Interest: None. Submission 09-07-2016, Peer Review 19-07-2016, Acceptance 08-08-2016, Published 17-08-2016. Corresponding Author: Dr. Aparajita Chakraborty, Department of Physiology, Silchar Medical College & Hospital, Silchar, Cachar-788014, Assam. E-mail: dramrita_c@yahoo.com DOI: 10.18410/jebmh/2016/764