Gustatory changes associated with the menstrual cycle

We studied changes in the palatability and gustatory functions as they correlate with the menstrual cycle in 30 healthy females with regular menstrual cycles. The gustatory function was investigated by conducting electrogustometry and by the filter-paper disk method with taste solutions in the follicular and luteal phases of the same subjects. The responses to a questionnaire revealed that appetite was enhanced prior to menstruation in 14 cases (46.7%). The results of electrogustometry showed that the threshold in the domain of the chorda tympani nerve was 0.3 +/- 3.4 dB in the follicular phase and -0.9 +/- 2.8 dB in the luteal phase. Although the threshold in the luteal phase indicated a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.05), the difference was so small that the change could not be subjectively discriminated. The threshold in the domain of the glossopharyngeal nerve was 2.6 +/- 4.0 dB in the follicular phase and 1.7 +/- 3.9 dB in the luteal phase, with no significant difference between the two values. Gustatory thresholds as obtained by the filter-paper disk testing were not significantly different between the follicular and luteal phases. Thus, although the taste function may change through the menstrual cycle, changes in gustatory thresholds are minimal and remain within the normal range. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.