O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a influência do ciclo menstrual nas alterações de limiar de dor à pressão (LDP) na musculatura mastigatória de mulheres com sinais e sintomas de Disfunção Temporomandibular (DTM). Inicialmente 47 voluntárias entre 18 e 40 anos participaram do estudo, das quais 36 foram incluídas no experimento: 15 com sinais e sintomas de DTM (7 sob terapia com contraceptivos orais (CO) e 8 sem CO) e 21 saudáveis, sem sinais e/ou sintomas de DTM (8 com CO e 13 sem CO). Os LDPs dos músculos masseter e temporais (anterior, médio e posterior), e do tendão de Aquiles foram medidos bilateralmente, por meio de um algômetro, durante 2 ciclos menstruais consecutivos, nas 4 diferentes fases: menstrual (dias 1-3), folicular (dias 5-9), periovulatória (dias 12-16) e lútea (dias 19-23). Em cada fase do ciclo, as voluntárias relataram sua dor em uma Escala de Análise Visual (EVA). Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância a 3 critérios para mensurações repetidas, a um nível de significância de 5%.Foram encontrados LDPs significativamente menores nos músculos temporal e masseter e no tendão de Aquiles das mulheres com DTM quando comparado às mulheres assintomáticas, independentemente da fase do ciclo e do uso de contraceptivos (p < 0,05). De uma maneira geral, os LDPs foram maiores em mulheres em terapia com contraceptivos orais, quando comparado às mulheres sem terapia. Parece não existir influência das diferentes fases do ciclo menstrual no LDP, independentemente da presença ou não de DTM. / The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the menstrual cycle on the Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT) figures of the masticatory muscles in women with signs and symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD). Forty-seven volunteers (ages between 18-40 years-old) were initially recruited for this purpose. According to the criteria adopted, 36 were included. The experimental group was composed of 15 women with myofascial pain (RDC/TMD) (7 under oral contraceptive medication), while 21 women with no TMD signs or symptoms (8 under oral contraceptive medication) composed the control group. The PPT values of masseter and temporalis (anterior, middle, and posterior regions) muscles, as well as the Achilles? tendon were bilaterally screened during two consecutive menstrual cycles, in the following phases: menstrual (day 1-3), follicular (day 5-9), periovulatory (day 12-16) and luteal (day 19-23). A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to address subjective pain in each menstrual phase. Data were submitted to 3-way ANOVA for repeated measurements, with a 5% significant level. The PPT values were significantly lower in the temporalis, masseter, and the Achilles? tendon of TMD patients when compared with the asymptomatic controls, regardless of the menstrual cycle phase or the use of oral contraceptives (p<.05). Overall, the PPT values were higher for patients under oral contraceptive therapy, while VAS was, in general higher at the menstrual phase (p<.05). It appears that the different phases of menstrual cycle have no influence on the PPT values, regardless of the presence of a previous condition, as myofascial pain.

Background: Oral contraceptives are common among female athletes. Still, its effects on athletic performance are poorly investigated. Research in the area has increased in recent years. However, the study qualities and designs are often insufficient and with small sample sizes. Women are currently underrepresented in sport research, and to recruit more women in future studies and to facilitate female athletes’ choices about contraceptives, the impact of oral contraceptives on performance must be better understood. Aim: The aim was to investigate whether monophasic, combined oral contraceptive phases affected maximal muscle strength, anaerobic performance and the corresponding blood lactate response, or perceived mental and physical energy level among young women. Method: The study used a cross-over design where six participants were tested on two occasions. The participants were healthy women between 18 and 29 years old who had beenusing monophasic combined oral contraceptives for at least three months prior to the study. No criteria for training level was set. The Isometric mid-thigh pull (N) was used as an indicator ofmaximal muscle strength; and the Wingate anaerobic test (W) measured anaerobic performance and power with corresponding blood lactate levels (mmol/L) measured at 0, 3 and 5 minutes after termination of the test. The participants rated their current physical and mental energy level on both test occasions using a visual analog scale (0-10). Statistical analyses were madeusing Wilcoxon signed-ranked test. Results: Nine participants were recruited, of which six performed tests on both occasions. The participants had a mean (SD) age of 22.3 (1.8) years, a BMI of 23.3 (2.6) and all reached WHO’sphysical activity recommendations. No statistically significant differences in muscle strengthor anaerobic performance were found regarding peak force (p=0.60), peak power (p=0.35) oraverage power (p=0.60) between oral contraceptive phases. Neither were there any differencesin the blood lactate response to the Wingate test directly after (p=0.92), 3 minutes after (p=0.17) or 5 minutes after (p=0.60) the test. No differences in perceived mental energy level (p=0.35)or perceived physical energy level (p=0.17) between oral contraceptive phases were evident. Conclusion: Oral contraceptive phases did not affect maximal muscle strength, anaerobicperformance, blood lactate response or perceived mental or physical energy levels. Accordingly, there is no need to adapt training to oral contraceptive phases and women can berecruited in future research without consideration of oral contraceptive phases.