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Heart rate variability and endogenous sex hormones during the menstrual cycle in young women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 May 2003

Anthony S. Leicht ,
David A. Hirning  and
Graham D. Allen
Anthony S. Leicht
Affiliation:
Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, and Department of Biological and Physical Sciences and Centre for the Assessment of Human Performance, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia
David A. Hirning
Affiliation:
Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, and Department of Biological and Physical Sciences and Centre for the Assessment of Human Performance, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia
Graham D. Allen
Affiliation:
Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, and Department of Biological and Physical Sciences and Centre for the Assessment of Human Performance, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia
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Abstract

To our knowledge, the relationship between all four endogenous female sex hormones and resting cardiac autonomic function has not been studied. The aim of the current study was to examine the association between the normal endogenous levels of oestrogen (17β-oestradiol), progesterone, luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone and heart rate variability (HRV) during the menstrual cycle in young eumenorrheic women. Ten healthy, young, female subjects volunteered for this study. HRV and endogenous hormone levels were recorded at three phases of the menstrual cycle: menses (day 3.8 ± 0.5), ovulation (day 15.8 ± 0.7) and luteal (day 22.1 ± 0.4) to ensure HRV recordings at times of low (menses) and high (ovulation and luteal) hormonal influence. Heart rate recordings were obtained from supine resting subjects and analysed on a Holter analysis system. Total power (TP, 0-1.0 Hz), low frequency (LF, 0.041-0.15 Hz), high frequency (HF, 0.15-0.80 Hz) and LF/HF components of HRV were examined. Despite a significantly greater HR at ovulation and normal cyclic variations in all endogenous sex hormone levels, no measure of HRV was significantly different between menstrual cycle phases. Significant correlations between oestrogen levels and absolute measures of HRV at ovulation were identified. The results of the current study demonstrated that the normal cyclic variations in endogenous sex hormone levels during the menstrual cycle were not significantly associated with changes in cardiac autonomic control as measured by HRV. Significant correlation between peak oestrogen levels and HRV measures at ovulation provided further support for the reported cardioprotective effects of oestrogen in healthy females. Experimental Physiology (2003) 88.3, 441-446.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Experimental Physiology , Volume 88 , Issue 3 , May 2003 , pp. 441 - 446
Copyright
© The Physiological Society 2003

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