Reduced estrogen levels may worsen pain associated with fibromyalgia

Although men and women can be equal in many things, there are just some areas where the two sexes differ radically. One of those areas is in the development and pain associated with chronic diseases such as fibromyalgia. And, it is not because women have a lower threshold for pain, either. A new study has found that fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and interstitial cystitis symptoms all worsen with the onset of menstruation.

The researchers theorized that because migraines are an autonomic disorder like fibromyalgia and they seem to worsen and occur more frequently around the time of menstruation, that perhaps fibromyalgia and other autonomic disorders would also have this variation. According to WebMD, all of these disorders stem from the autonomic nervous system, which is the part of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that controls various bodily functions. The researchers decided to evaluate a questionnaire that was completed by seventy-seven women diagnosed with fibromyalgia and various numbers of women who suffered from other conditions. The women were supposed to report on their symptoms throughout the month. At the conclusion of the study, the researchers found that eighteen percent of the fibromyalgia sufferers reported an increase in severity and frequency of their symptoms just before and during their periods.

In an effort to determine an explanation for this rise in pain, the researchers theorize that it must have something to do with fluctuating hormone levels. WebMD reports that estrogen prevents pain; however, it is at very low levels right before and during a woman’s menstruation. This belief is shored up by the report that fifteen percent of women had increased pain at the time of menopause when estrogen is also very low.

The study was not without its problems, however. Many women reported no change in their symptoms at all around their period and other women reported that the fibromyalgia pain was the worst during their first period. These inconsistencies could not be explained by the researchers and will likely lead to additional studies on the topic of hormone fluctuations impacting pain.

You can also conduct your own self study to determine if your fibromyalgia pain worsens before and during your period. Keep a journal, detailing your symptoms, and what other events are occurring in your life. Try to determine if your period impacts your symptoms and if so, you may discuss various options with your doctor, including taking an estrogen supplement or the birth control pill, both of which increase estrogen production.