Cyclical pain in women: the influence of hormonal fluctuations and pain modulation mechanisms

Introduction: Women often experience cyclical pain outside their menstrual phase, suggesting that hormonal fluctuations influence pain perception. Additionally, the pain modulation system, assessed using pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and conditioned pain modulation (CPM), may contribute to cyclical pain. This study investigated the characteristics of cyclical pain in young women during hormonal fluctuations, excluding menstrual pain, and explored whether pain was more closely associated with menstrual–related symptoms (e.g., autonomic dysregulation, water retention, emotional distress) or dysfunction in pain modulation.