Psychophysical pain measures in women with painful temporomandibular disorders across menopausal status and hormone therapy use: A cross-sectional study

Cranio. 2026 Apr 1:1-8. doi: 10.1080/08869634.2026.2649364. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether menopause is associated with symptoms related to central sensitization, pressure pain threshold, and conditioned pain modulation in women with painful TMD.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated 45 women with painful TMD, divided into three groups: regular menstrual cycle (n = 15), menopause with hormone replacement (n = 16), and menopause without hormone replacement (n = 14). The Central Sensitization Inventory and the pressure pain threshold and conditioned pain modulation tests were applied.

RESULTS: The group without hormone replacement had lower pressure pain threshold in the right masseter (p = .008) and left masseter (p = .007) compared to the regular cycle group. Pain modulation was impaired in the without hormone replacement group when assessing the right masseter (p = .019), left masseter (p = .005), and tenar of the nondominant hand (p = .046). The Central Sensitization Inventory score did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that menopause without hormone therapy is associated with increased pain sensitivity within the trigeminal territory.

PMID:41920164 | DOI:10.1080/08869634.2026.2649364