The Influence Of Sex-Specific Hormones On Flow Mediated Dilation And Passive Limb Movement

Vascular health is affected by sex-specific hormones: estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. There are two tests that noninvasively assess endothelial function and vascular function: Flow Mediated Dilation and Passive Limb Movement. We hypothesize that 1) Natural menstrual cycle women will display greater fluctuations in %FMD and PLM throughout one month than women using systemic hormonal contraceptives or than age-matched men. 2) Systemic hormonal contraceptive women will display no significant fluctuations in %FMD and PLM, as compared to age-matched men 3) Healthy age-matched men to have no significant difference in % FMD results compared to women on a natural menstrual cycle and compared to women using systemic hormonal contraceptive. The primary study aim is to conduct a literature review of the following topics: vascular blood flow and regulation, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, dysfunction in endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells leading to health-related decrements, the influence of sex-specific hormones, the menstrual cycle, menopause, and the influence of systemic hormonal contraceptives on vascular blood flow regulation.