Whole-body cryostimulation exposures effectively alleviates menstrual-related pain and associated sleep disturbances in young women: a randomized controlled trial

TL;DR

Whole-body cryostimulation reduces menstrual-related pain and improves sleep quality in young women with premenstrual syndrome.

Contribution

This study demonstrates that repeated whole-body cryostimulation sessions alleviate menstrual pain and associated sleep disturbances in young women.

Findings

Women with high menstrual pain had lower sleep quality compared to those with low/no pain during the control condition.

Whole-body cryostimulation improved perceived sleep quality over five nights, particularly in women with high menstrual pain.

Reduction in menstrual pain following WBC was strongly correlated with improved sleep quality.

Abstract

Menstrual-related pain and sleep disturbances are widespread in women experiencing premenstrual syndrome and primary dysmenorrhea. Such disturbances could be alleviated through repeated whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) sessions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of menstrual-related pain on sleep parameters, and the impact of WBC exposures on pain and sleep.

Pain and sleep were evaluated for two 5-day periods under different conditions (control vs. WBC), randomly assigned across two consecutive menstrual cycles. Measurements began when the first pain/symptom indicating the onset of the menstrual phase was experienced. Pain was rated using a scale, while sleep was assessed using accelerometers and questionnaires. Throughout the 5-day WBC exposure, women underwent 3-min exposure to intense ventilated cold air each evening. After data collection, participants were categorized into high (HP) or low/no pain (LP) groups based on control pain scores.

Twenty-nine naturally menstruating women were assessed. Perceived sleep quality was lower in the HP group compared to the LP group during the control condition (Spiegel score: 20.1 ± 2.3 vs. 22.3 ± 1.9, respectively; Cohen's d = 1.1). Across both groups, perceived sleep quality improved with the number of WBC exposures (night1: 19.5 ± 3.2 vs. night5: 23.5 ± 3.8; Hedge's g = 1.10). In the HP group, pain was reduced in the WBC condition compared to the control condition. Changes in pain and perceived sleep quality following WBC were correlated (r = −0.86).

Women experiencing higher menstrual-related pain reported poorer perceived sleep quality. Their pain was reduced by WBC exposures. This improvement was highly associated with the enhancement in sleep quality.

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