What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed 81 medical records of women from 1978 to 1988 to investigate a possible connection between their menstrual history and the likelihood of developing decompression sickness in altitude chambers.
What They Found
The study found a significant inverse linear relationship, meaning that women had a higher risk of developing both Type I and Type II decompression sickness during their menstrual period. This risk steadily decreased as more days passed since the start of their last menstrual period.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian women who may be exposed to altitude changes, such as military personnel, pilots, or those undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for other conditions, this research suggests a potential link between their menstrual cycle and the risk of decompression sickness. Understanding this relationship could help in planning activities or taking precautions to reduce risk, especially during menses.
Canadian Relevance
This was not a Canadian study, nor were the authors Canadian. However, decompression sickness is a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
The study was limited by a lack of information on the overall population at risk, which prevented analysis of birth control pill effects, and the underlying mechanism for the observed correlation remains unknown.