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Publication AbstractsThe Influence of Gender and Menstrual Phase on Thermosensitivity During Cold Water ImmersionEllen L. Glickman-Weiss, Ph.D., Christopher Cheatham, M.S. , Natalie Caine, M.A., Mark Blegen, M.S., Jennifer Marcinkiewicz, Ph.D., and Karen D. Mittleman Ph.D.Aviat Space Environ Med 2000; 71:715-22 AbstractBackground: This investigation evaluated the influence of gender and phase of menstrual cycle [follicular (FOL: days 2-6) and luteal (LUT: days 19-24) phases] on thermosensitivity and metabolic heat production (HP) during cold water immersion (20°C) in 10 females (22.4 ± 2.8 yr) and 16 males (22.4 ± 2.9 yr). Methods: Following a 20-min baseline period (BASE), subjects were immersed until esophageal temperature (Tes) reached 36.5°C or for a maximum pre-occlusion (Pre-OCC) time of 40 min. An arm and thigh cuff were then inflated to 180 and 220 mmHg, respectively, for 10 min (OCC). Following release of the inflated cuffs (Post-OCC), the slope (beta) of the relationship between the decrease in Tes and the increase in HP was used to quantify thermosensitivity. Results: ANOVA revealed no significant difference in thermosensitivity between phases of the menstrual cycle or between men and women (FOL = -2.76, LUT = -3.05, Males = -3.24 W · kg-1 · °C-1). A significant (p < 0.05) main effect for gender for HP, and a significant (p < 0.05) main effect for menstrual phase for mean skin temperature (Tsk) were observed. Conclusions: These data suggest, despite gender differences in HP, that the thermosensitivity of HP during cold water immersion is similar between males and females and is not influenced by menstrual cycle phase. Therefore, these data indicate that when faced with a cold challenge, women respond similarly to men in both phases of their menstrual cycle.Keywords: Cold exposure, gender, core temperature, thermoregulation. Information on subscribing, and on obtaining copies of an article or of an entire issue. Table of Contents for Volume 71, Number 7 of the ASME journal.
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