Effects of Menstrual Phases and Gender on Dental Pulp Pain

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of menstrual cycle and gender on pulp pain induced by electrical and cold stimuli.

Methods: A total of 50 healthy subjects, 25 regularly menstruating women and 25 men were randomly selected from subjects presenting for regular check-up. Women were tested five times across their menstrual cycle (menstrual, follicular, periovulatory, luteal and premenstrual phase) while a group of men participated on one occasion. Electrical (electrical pulp tester) and cold (refrigerant spray) stimuli were applied on mandibular incisors, and pain threshold values (0-80 units) and pain intensity scores (visual numeric scale, from 0 to 10) were estimated, respectively.

Results: In women electrical pain threshold values did not vary throughout menstrual cycle. Data on cold pain revealed a significant menstrual change, with the lowest pain intensity scores in luteal and the highest scores in menstrual phase. Pain threshold values were lower and pain intensity scores were higher in woman than men.

Conclusions: These results suggest that women have increased pulp sensitivity to cold stimuli at time with the lowest estrogen. Pulp sensitivity was higher in women than in man.