Multisensory sensitivity predicts menstrual pain and widespread pain trajectories over 12 months in adolescents with and without primary dysmenorrhea

A substantial body of evidence points to menstrual pain as a risk factor for chronic pain, yet measures of central sensitization of pain have failed to account for this transition. New research suggests that multisensory sensitivity (MSS) may better characterize those at risk for chronic pain. This study aimed to determine the contribution of MSS to menstrual pain and widespread pain trajectories over 1 year in adolescents with and without primary dysmenorrhea and no other chronic pain conditions at baseline. One hundred forty-one regularly menstruating participants (ages 13-19 years) completed the Sensory Hypersensitivity Scale (SHS) at baseline, and assessments of menstrual pain and widespread pain were completed monthly for 11 months to determine menstrual pain and widespread pain trajectories. There were no differences in reported initiation of hormonal or pain medications or rates of persistent pain between those in the "increase" vs "no increase" in menstrual pain groups. The results indicated main effects of SHS scores on menstrual pain and SHS scores on widespreaed pain. However, for participants with an increase in menstrual pain, there was a significant interaction between SHS scores and widespread pain over time for those with average (β = 0.11, SE = 0.05, P = 0.03) and high (β = 0.19, SE = 0.07, P = 0.01), but not low, SHS scores. These results suggest that MSS plays an important role in understanding the trajectories of both menstrual pain and widespread pain.