Hypohydration but not menstrual phase influences pain perception in healthy women

Abstract

Whether hypohydration can increase pain in women remains untested. Menstrual phase may influence pain, but findings are equivocal and may be confounded by the lack of hydration measures. We found that pain sensitivity in women increased after 24 h of fluid restriction versus ad libitum fluid intake, but did not differ between menstrual phases. Water ingestion did not acutely attenuate the negative effects of hypohydration on pain, highlighting the importance of staying well-hydrated throughout the day.