title: Anesthetic efficacy and pain induced by dental anesthesia: the influence of gender and menstrual cycle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the influence of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on pain sensitivity and local anesthetic effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty volunteers were designated into 3 groups (n = 10): group 1, women using contraceptives; group 2, women not using contraceptives; and group 3, men. Groups 1 and 2 had a buccal infiltration of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine at the upper-right canine during each one of the 5 phases of the menstrual cycle and group 3 at a randomly selected day. Pain threshold, latency period, and pulpal anesthesia were measured with an electrical pulp tester. Injection discomfort was recorded. Data were analyzed with Friedman and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain threshold was higher in men; however, there were no significant differences (P > .05) in anesthetic duration and injection discomfort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Injection discomfort and clinical effectiveness of local anesthetics are not related to sex, phases of the menstrual cycle, or use of oral contraceptives.
authors.affiliation: Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giovana Radomille
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Tófoli
authors.forename: Juliana Cama
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ramacciato
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Volpato
authors.forename: Jonh G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Meechan
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ranali
authors.forename: Francisco Carlos
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Groppo
mesh_terms: D000278:Administration, Buccal; D000328:Adult; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000187:drug effects*; D003791:Dental Pulp Test; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D017288:Pain Threshold; D011930:Reaction Time; D012737:Sex Factors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D008012:Lidocaine; D004837:Epinephrine