Background/Purpose: Although women play and compete at all phases of their menstrual cycle, the specific phase may impact sports performance. The current study was designed to determine the effects of menstrual cycle phase and oral contraceptive use on exercise performance.
Method: Subjects were 7 female varsity student-athletes at a Division I university who were currently taking a 28 day cycle oral contraceptive pill. Participants completed a VO2 max Bruce treadmill test and Wingate anaerobic bike test during both the follicular phase and luteal phase of one menstrual cycle.
Analysis/Results: Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). In aerobic exercise, there was no difference in VO2 max, F(1,6)=.278, p>.01; final heart rate, F(1,6)= .152, p>.01; respiratory exchange ratio, F(1,6)=0.131, p>.01; or blood lactate accumulation, F(1,6)=.340, p>.01 between phases. In anaerobic exercise, there was no difference in peak power, F(1,6)=.001, p>.01; work, F(1,6)= 1.161, p>.01; mean power, F(1,6)=1.161, p>.01; and fatigue index, F(1,6)= .005, p>.01 between phase. However, there was a difference in final blood lactate accumulations in anaerobic exercise, F(1,6)= 9.063, p<.01, with values being higher during the follicular phase.
Conclusions: It is suggested that there was no change in exercise performance because highly trained athletes have already adapted to the physiological changes of the menstrual cycle. Any perceived differences could be due to psychological factors of performing when menstruating. Further research is warranted to explain the effects of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on exercise performance, specifically with highly trained athletes.
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