Temperature Regulation at Rest and Exercise during the Human Menstrual Cycle,
Abstract
Thermoregulatory responses were studied in eight women during three separate experimental protocols in both the follicular (F) and luteal (L) phases of the menstrual cycle. Continuous measurements of esophageal temperature (T sub es), mean skin temperature (T sub sk), metabolism, and forearm sweating (m sub s) were made during all experiments. Study I evaluated 35 minutes of seated cycle exercise. Study II involved both passive heat exposure and seated cycle exercise to elicit a 0.8 C increase in T sub es. Study III evaluated high intensity exercise. The normal L increase in resting T sub es occurred in all eight subjects. T sub sk was higher during L than F in all experiments. During exercise, the T sub es threshold for sweating was higher in L, with no change in the slope of m sub s to T sub es between menstrual cycle phases. This rightward shift in T sub es averaged 0.53 C for all conditions studied. Temperature regulation in healthy women varies with menstrual cycle phase as the onset of sweating occurs at an elevated T sub es threshold in the luteal phase when resting core temperature is elevated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA186461
Entities
People
- Lou A. Stephenson
- Margaret A. Kolka
- Richard R. Gonzalez
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine