Fig. 3

Effects of sex and the menstrual cycle on cardiovagal barorefex sensitivity in healthy young individuals. a cardiovagal BRS assessed during early phase II and phase IV of the Valsalva maneuver. b The slope of the linear relationship between R–R interval and SBP indicates cardiovagal BRS. c The sensitivity during decreasing BP was not different between the sexes and menstrual phases in women. d However, it was greater in men than women of both phases during increasing BP. Values are mean ± SE. BRS baroreflex sensitivity, BP blood pressure, EFP the early follicular phase, HR heart rate, MLP the mid-luteal phase, SBP systolic blood pressure. Reproduced with permission from Fu et al. [4]