Menstrual cycle and hemostatic modifications: a review

• Autor(a) principal: Letícia Gonçalves Freitas
• Data de Publicação: 2016
• Outros Autores: Cristina de Mello Gomide Loures, Marcos Vinícius Ferreira Silva Marcos, Fernanda Freire Campos Nunes, Maria Das Gracas Carvalho, Luci Maria SantAna Dusse
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UFMG
• Texto Completo: http://www.ijhsr.org/IJHSR_Vol.6_Issue.6_June2016/52.pdf; http://hdl.handle.net/1843/39792
• topic: Menstrual cycle; Hemostatic modifications; Menstruation physiology; Ciclo menstrual; Menstruação; Fenômenos fisiológicos

Physiologically, menstrual cycle is a complex process involving cell replication and growth under the influence of hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters, regulatory molecules and hemostatic mechanisms. During this process, there is platelet aggregate formation, coagulation cascade activation, synthesis and activation of various procoagulant molecules and fibrin clot formation, aiming to control bleeding. Subsequently, activation of the fibrinolytic system is observed for remodeling the tissue. This review considers articles that evaluated hemostatic and hematological alterations during menstrual cycle in order to better understand this physiological process. There is evidence that menstrual cycle is associated with procoagulant (platelet aggregation, coagulation factors and fibrinolysis inhibitors) and anticoagulant (fibrinolysis system activators) changes. However, data are still conflicting for each phase. Current literature confirms that the most important modifications in hemostasis occur due to the fundamental role of progesterone, although follicular and bleeding phases also take place with a balance between the pro and anticoagulant factors. Additional randomized and well controlled clinical studies are required to clarify thehemostatic changes and its consequences in women health.