Effect of the menstrual cycle on the auditory brainstem response.

The present study sought to determine if the gender difference in auditory brainstem (ABR) latency and peak amplitude varies systematically across the menstrual cycle. Behavioral thresholds and auditory-evoked brainstem responses to alternating click stimuli were obtained from 17 normal hearing young adults (10 female, 7 male). Absolute behavioral thresholds and ABR measurements were compared every other day over a complete menstrual cycle. Results show consistent gender differences in ABR latency, peak amplitude, and behavioral threshold of the ABR stimuli, but these differences do not vary across the menstrual cycle.