Objectives: Sex steroid hormones including estrogens and progesterones have many spesific effects on cells and tissues. These hormones are considered to aggrevate gingivitis during different phases of the menstrual cycle, by increasing the response to local irritants as a result of the change in tissue metabolism. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of hormonal variation on gingival condition during menstrual cycle. Methods: A group of 30 females, aged between 20-30 years consisted the study group. Since all subjects did not exhibit any signs of attachment loss, they were considered to be gingivitis patients. They also had regular menstrual cycles and were not using oral contraseptives. In order to observe the changes in clinical periodontal condition; plaque and gingival indices and gingival crevicular fluid volume measurements were performed on the first day of the menstruation (MD), estimated ovulation day (OD), and the day with the predominance of progesterone secretion (PSD). Probing pocket depth recordings were made in order to assess their periodontal status only once, considering that there will not be any changes in a few days period. Paired samples T test was used for statistical analysis of the data. Results: Although mean plaque index measured on mean MD (0.28±0.47), OD (0.21±0.43) or PSD (0.25±0.39) did not significantly differ from each other (p>0.05); a higher inflammatory status, evidenced by higher mean gingival index scores (0.78±0.53) and exudation (73.48±48.67), was observed on PSD (p<0.05). Conclusions: It might be speculated that, hormonal variations during menstrual cycle may aggrevate existent gingivitis. This factor needs to be considered during periodontal data collection and analysis in studies performed in premenopausal females, not to interfere with clinical measurements.

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