Decreased thermal conductance during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in women
Abstract
To study the influence of the menstrual cycle on whole body thermal balance and on thermoregulatory mechanisms, metabolic heat production (M) was measured by indirect calorimetry and total heat losses (H) were measured by direct calorimetry in nine women during the follicular (F) and the luteal (L) phases of the menstrual cycle. The subjects were studied while exposed for 90 min to neutral environmental conditions (ambient temperature 28 degrees C, relative humidity 40%) in a direct calorimeter. The values of M and H were not modified by the phase of the menstrual cycle. Furthermore, in both phases the subjects were in thermal equilibrium because M was similar to H (69.7 +/- 1.8 and 72.1 +/- 1.8 W in F and 70.4 +/- 1.9 and 71.4 +/- 1.7 W in L phases, respectively). Tympanic temperature (Tty) was 0.24 +/- 0.07 degrees C higher in the L than in the F phase (P less than 0.05), whereas mean skin temperature (Tsk) was unchanged. Calculated skin thermal conductance (Ksk) was lower in the L (17.9 +/- 0.6 W.m-2.degrees C-1) than in the F phase (20.1 +/- 1.1 W.m-2.degrees C-1; P less than 0.05). Calculated skin blood flow (Fsk) was also lower in the L (0.101 +/- 0.008 l.min-1.m-2) than in the F phase (0.131 +/- 0.015 l.min-1.m-2; P less than 0.05). Differences in Tty, Ksk, and Fsk were not correlated with changes in plasma progesterone concentration. It is concluded that, during the L phase, a decreased thermal conductance in women exposed to a neutral environment allows the maintenance of a higher internal temperature.
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During the luteal phase compared with the follicular phase, the threshold for sweating and vasodilation is increased and thermal conductance and skin blood flow are decreased.
“Increased threshold for sweating [39, 40] and for vasodilation [39–41] as well as decreased thermal conductance and skin blood flow [42] is observed during the LP compared to the FP.”
From Sleep, hormones, and circadian rhythms throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy women and women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (2010) · cites this paper as [42]
The majority but not all studies find an increase in energy expenditure or basal metabolic rate of about 5% to 9% in the luteal phase.
“The majority [29,108–113] but not all [114,115] studies find an increase in energy expenditure or basal metabolic rate of about 5% to 9% in the luteal phase.”
From Temperature regulation in women: Effects of the menstrual cycle (2020) · cites this paper as [110]
A rise in body temperature of 0.3-0.7°C would induce a small increase in metabolic heat production that may be within the range of measurement error.
“however, a rise in body temperature of 0.3–0.7°C would induce a small increase in metabolic heat production that may be within the range of measurement error [110].”
From Temperature regulation in women: Effects of the menstrual cycle (2020) · cites this paper as [110]
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- Authors
- Frascarolo, P., Schutz, Y., & Jequier, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Lausanne (CH)
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 1990-12-01
- Volume
- 69
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 2029-2033
- ISSN
- 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
- 8750-7587
- 1522-1601
- OpenAlex
- W2228294551
- Cited by
- 69
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 1.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- IRIS (submittedVersion)
- SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine › Thermal Regulation in Medicine
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- menstrual cycle, luteal phase, follicular phase, thermoregulation, metabolic heat production, heat loss, skin blood flow, skin temperature, tympanic temperature, progesterone
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Body Temperature, Body Temperature Regulation, Calorimetry, Female, Follicular Phase, Humans, Luteal Phase, Mathematics, Progesterone, Regional Blood Flow, Skin, Skin Temperature
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