IMR Press / CEOG / Volume 46 / Issue 1 / DOI: 10.12891/ceog4358.2019

Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.

Open Access Original Research
Hormone therapy is not associated to pain thresholds in healthy postmenopausal women
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1 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics; Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo; Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
*Correspondence: polineto@fmrp.usp.br (O.B. POLI-NETO)
Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol. 2019, 46(1), 66–71; https://doi.org/10.12891/ceog4358.2019
Published: 10 February 2019
Abstract

Purpose of Investigation: To evaluate if hormone replacement therapy modifies pain thresholds in healthy postmenopausal women. Study Design: A cross-sectional study including 78 healthy postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: Pain thresholds were determined using pressure algometry and electrical stimulation. Participant interviews were followed by the application of a semistructured questionnaire including psychometric assessment with Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A 10-mL peripheral blood sample was collected after the interview. Serum concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone were determined by chemoluminescence. Results: Users of the medication presented significantly lower sensory electrical thresholds (3.60 ± 0.85) than non-users (4.58 ± 1.30). No significant difference in pain threshold was observed between groups. Weak positive correlation between estradiol levels and sensory thresholds was observed (r = 0.26, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Hormone replacement therapy is not associated with modifications in pain thresholds, neither mechanical nor electrical ones, in healthy postmenopausal women.

Keywords
Hormone therapy
Postmenopausal women
Pain threshold
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