Wei Lin Tan

Citation

Thesis Title
Effects of Hypohydration and Menstrual Phase on Pain

Chronic pain affects 20% of the adult population in New Zealand and results in significant individual suffering as well as negative socioeconomic impacts. However, chronic pain is difficult to treat because it is often unrelated to any detectable pathology. Indeed, pain is influenced by numerous factors, including biological sex. Hypohydration was recently shown to increase pain sensitivity in men, but this has not been examined in women. Women experience hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, which could influence their pain sensitivity and level of hydration. Ms Tan investigated the effects of hypohydration on pain sensitivity in women during two different menstrual phases – early follicular and mid-luteal. She found that hypohydration increased pain sensitivity, whereas the menstrual phase had no apparent effect on pain. The results suggest that staying well-hydrated through regular fluid intake may help reduce pain in women.

Supervisors
Associate Professor Toby Mundel
Dr Munir Che Muhamed
Dr Michael Philipp