Cutaneous thermal thresholds: the reproducibility of their measurements and the effect of gender

The present study evaluated the reproducibility of measurements of the forearm thresholds for warm (WT) and cold (CT) sensation, and their dependence on gender. The Middlesex Thermal Testing System was used for this purpose. CT did not differ between the five consecutive trials, whereas WT fell significantly. A minimum of two trial tests are therefore recommended prior to the assessment of WT. Furthermore, CT and WT were induced by significantly smaller skin temperature changes (lower thresholds) in females as compared to males. Should this gender specific difference in thermosensitivity also be observed in other skin regions, then females would be more sensitive to thermal stimulation than males.