Abstract

Background: Due to the existing controversy on the effect of female sex hormones on the cerebral electrophysiology and the absence of conclusive study in south India about the sex hormonal influence on brain stem auditory evoked responses during different phases of menstrual cycle, this study was chosen.

Aims & Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation of auditory brain stem response (ABR) with different phases of menstrual cycle in young healthy women in our area.

Materials and Methods: ABR recording was done in 35 healthy regular menstruating females of 20-40 years of age with normal BMI during 4 different phases of menstrual cycle. Peak latencies of waves I-V and inter peak latencies of I-III, I-V, III-V for four phases of menstrual cycle were compared.

Results: Data showed statistically significant increase in peak latencies in wave IV in phase 2 compared to all other phases. Other waves showed a trend of increase in peak latencies in the phase 2 when compared to all other phases. Inter peak latencies did not show any significant variations between different phases of menstrual cycle.

Conclusion: The results favour that female sex hormones do affect the central auditory pathway in menstrual cycle.

Key words: Auditory brain stem response, Menstrual cycle, Central auditory pathway