Susceptibility to nausea and motion sickness as a function of the menstrual cycle.
OBJECTIVE
The present study examined whether susceptibility to nausea and other symptoms of vection-induced motion sickness vary as a function of phase of the menstrual cycle, as research findings in this area are sparse and contradictory.


METHODS
Ninety young women (42 current users of oral contraceptives) were exposed to a rotating optokinetic drum during the peri-menses or peri-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle in an independent-groups, quasi-experimental design. Nausea and motion sickness symptoms were assessed using the Nausea Profile (NP) and the Subjective Symptoms of Motion Sickness (SSMS) questionnaire.


RESULTS
Among women not on oral contraceptives, reports of nausea and motion sickness by women in the peri-menses phase were more severe than reports by women in the peri-ovulatory phase. By contrast, among women taking oral contraceptives, reports of nausea and motion sickness did not differ by the same categorical phase of the menstrual cycle.


CONCLUSIONS
We speculate that fluctuating estrogen levels over the course of the menstrual cycle may influence the experience of or susceptibility to nausea and motion sickness during illusory self-motion and other nauseogenic contexts.
Matchock
Robert L
RL
Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, Altoona Campus, Altoona, Pennsylvania 16601, USA. rlm191@psu.edu
Levine
Max E
ME
Gianaros
Peter J
PJ
Stern
Robert M
RM
D000328:Adult; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D009041:Motion Sickness / Q000378:metabolism*; D009325:Nausea / Q000378:metabolism*; D016387:Women's Health
D004967:Estrogens