The Impact of the Menstrual Cycle on Physical Exercise and Performance

Launched by KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET · Jan 16, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how the menstrual cycle affects women's physical exercise and athletic performance. Researchers want to find out if adjusting exercise routines based on the different phases of the menstrual cycle can improve fitness levels in female athletes. The trial involves women who exercise regularly (about 3-4 times a week) and have a normal menstrual cycle. However, women using hormonal birth control, those with chronic illnesses, or recent injuries cannot participate.

Participants will be divided into three groups and will follow different training schedules for 12 weeks. One group will train consistently throughout the cycle, while the other groups will focus on training more during specific phases of the menstrual cycle. Throughout the study, researchers will monitor participants’ fitness, body composition, and menstrual symptoms. This research aims to provide better guidelines for female athletes on how to optimize their training based on their menstrual cycles, ultimately helping them improve their performance.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Women exercising at least 3-4 times a week on a high level
• • Regular menstrual cycle with 26-32 cycle days.
• • Fully healthy and be able to follow the training program.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Hormonal contraceptive users,
• • Users of regular medication
• • Chronic disease
• • Past or present neurological disorder
• • Recent musculoskeletal injury