Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phases on Preoperative Anxiety: a Randomized Prospective Observational Trial

Abstract

Aim: Women experience physical and psychological changes as a result of their menstrual cycle. This study aimed to investigate whether the menstrual cycle had any effect on the preoperative anxiety experienced by women who were scheduled to have an operation. Material and Method: One hundred female patients who were scheduled to undergo a septorhinoplasty, and who met the inclusion criteria, were enrolled in the present study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the phase of their menstrual cycle: Group F (follicular phase) and Group L (luteal phase). The patients' anxiety level was measured preoperatively using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale. The patients' heart rate and blood pressure measurements were performed preoperatively as well as at 1 min, 5 min, and 10 min after intubation. Results: The preoperative anxiety scores of the patients in the luteal phase (41.14) were statistically significantly higher than those of the patients in the follicular phase (36.04). The blood pressure, heart rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation values were found to be similar between the two groups. Discussion: We believe that preoperative anxiety is higher during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle than during the follicular phase, but the hemodynamic data were similar in both phases.