[The relationship of gastrointestinal symptoms and menstrual cycle phase in young healthy women].
BACKGROUND
Abdominal discomfort is a common complaint by women and may vary with the menstrual cycle. The aim of this study was to investigate abdominal symptoms and general well being of women in relation to different phases of the menstrual cycle as well as gastrointestinal transit time.


METHODS
Fourteen young women who were not using any contraceptive medications were recruited. Questionnaire was used to exclude functional gastrointestinal problems. Questionnaires on abdominal symptoms and general well being were used. Gastric emptying time, small intestinal transit time and colonic transit time were measured and serum sex hormone concentrations were measured at three points in the menstrual cycle.


RESULTS
Abdominal symptoms were significantly more pronounced at the beginning of the follicular phase. Gastric emptying and colonic transit times were not significantly different between the follicular and the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Small bowel transit was faster in the luteal phase (75,7 min) compared with the follicular phase (99,3 min). There was no correlation between the transit times, symptoms or hormone concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that women experience more abdominal symptoms at the beginning of the follicular phase compared to the early luteal phase. Small bowel transit appears to be faster in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase. Further studies on the relationship of gastrointestinal symptoms and the menstrual cycle are needed.
Björnsson
Bergthór
B
Landspítali, St. Jósefsspítala, Hafnarfirdi. bergthor@landspitali.is
Orvar
Kjartan B
KB
Theodórs
Asgeir
A
Kjeld
Matthías
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones