Journal of Pain Research (Mar 2021)

The Relationship Between Androgens and Days per Month of Period Pain, Pelvic Pain, Headache, and TLR4 Responsiveness of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Young Women with Dysmenorrhoea

  • Evans S,
  • Kwok Y,
  • Solterbeck A,
  • Pyragius C,
  • Hull ML,
  • Hutchinson MR,
  • Rolan P

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 585 – 599

Abstract

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Susan F Evans,1 Yuen Kwok,1 Ann Solterbeck,2 Carmen Pyragius,3 Mary Louise Hull,4 Mark R Hutchinson,1,5 Paul Rolan1 1Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; 2Statistical Revelations, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; 3School of Paediatrics & Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; 4Robinson Research Institute, School of Pediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; 5ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaCorrespondence: Susan F EvansAdelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, PO Box 4025, Norwood South, Adelaide, 5067, South Australia, AustraliaTel +61 418 840 895Fax +61 8 8363 2911Email [email protected]: Women bear a disproportionate burden of persistent pain conditions when compared to men. To determine whether the hormonal environment affects the clinical experience of pain, as measured by the days per month of pelvic pain (DPelvicPM), period pain (DPeriodPM), headache (DHeadachePM) or the in vitro EC50 for Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) release following TLR4 stimulation with Lipopolysaccharide from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs). Findings were stratified according to use or non-use of the oral contraceptive pill.Patients and Methods: Fifty-six women aged 16– 35 years, with minimal or severe dysmenorrhea, and use or non-use of the OC, were enrolled. Blood was collected on two occasions in a single menstrual cycle: Days 1– 2 and Days 7– 10. Hormonal analysis for testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, Androstenedione, 3α-Androstanediol, 3β-androstanediol, estradiol, estrone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, cortisol and sex-hormone binding globulin was undertaken using ultra-sensitive Liquid Chromatography Mass–Spectrometry (LC-MS). PBMCs were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the resulting Interleukin-1β output was determined.Results: Non-users of the OC showed a strongly inverse correlation between a reducing free androgen index (FAI) and increasing DPelvicPM (p=0.0032), DPeriodPM (p=0.013), DHeadachePM (p=0.041). Non-users of the OC showed a significant increase in DPelvicPM (p=0.049) on Days 7– 10. Modestly significant associations were found between reduced androgens and potentiated LPS-induced IL-1β (lower EC50).Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate the relationship between the hormonal environment and activation of the immune system in young women with dysmenorrhoea-related pain conditions. Low androgen levels were consistently associated with increased pain. Translational implications for the findings are discussed.Keywords: pain, testosterone, oral contraceptive pill, dysmenorrhoea, pelvic pain, IL-1β

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