--- title: Does pain during dental treatment change depending on where a woman is in her menstrual cycle? description: Yes. Women experienced significantly more pain during the peri-menstrual phase (menstruation or pre-menstruation) than during the post-menstrual phase (mid-cy url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effect-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-pain-experience-associated-with-periodontal-2005/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does pain during dental treatment change depending on where a woman is in her menstrual cycle? Randomised trial, 2005 # Does pain during dental treatment change depending on where a woman is in her menstrual cycle? Yes. Women experienced significantly more pain during the peri-menstrual phase (menstruation or pre-menstruation) than during the post-menstrual phase (mid-cycle). Early or limited evidence 20 women with moderate-to-advanced chronic periodontitis and regular menstrual cycles ## What they did 20 women with moderate-to-advanced chronic gum disease and regular menstrual cycles received two gum debridement (cleaning) treatments, one during the peri-menstrual phase and one during the post-menstrual phase, in random order. Pain was measured on a scale after each treatment. ## What they found The median pain score was 22.0 mm during the peri-menstrual phase and 15.2 mm during the post-menstrual phase. Women experienced significantly more pain during their peri-menstrual phase than post-menstrual phase. The order in which women had their treatments did not affect the result. ## What it means for you Pain sensitivity may be higher during menstruation and the days before it. Women might consider scheduling non-urgent dental work for mid-cycle when they may experience less pain. However, this was a very small pilot study (only 20 women), so results cannot be generalized to all women yet. 22.0 Pain score peri-menstrual (median) 15.2 Pain score post-menstrual (median) 20 Women studied ## About the study Original title Effect of the menstrual cycle on pain experience associated with periodontal therapy: randomized, pilot study Authors Ozçaka O, Biçakçi N, Köse T Journal Journal of clinical periodontology Year 2005 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Gum debridement treatment scheduled during different menstrual cycle phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-051x.2005.00841.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-051x.2005.00841.x) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2020 Can teaching about yoga techniques improve girls' knowledge about managing PMS? Survey study, 2020 Do negative attitudes about menstruation and suggestibility predict worse PMS pain and distress? Cohort study, 2025 How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it? Systematic review, 2021 Does damask rose help reduce menstrual pain, headache, fatigue, anxiety, and bloating? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Study, 2025 Do women have different symptom patterns before, during, and after menopause? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗