The menstrual cycle (MC)
The MC is a biological rhythm affecting women characterised by a cyclic fluctuation in hormones, specially oestrogen and progesterone.
It is divided in three phases:
- Early follicular, with LOW oestrogen and LOW progesterone levels.
- Ovulatory, with HIGH oestrogen and LOW progesterone levels.
- Mid-luteal, with HIGH oestrogen and HIGH progesterone levels.
Although the main function of these hormones is related to reproduction, research has found that they also have multiple effects in many physiological systems, including the cardiovascular and respiratory. Consequently, they should influence exercise performance too.
A recent meta-analysis investigated the changes in exercise performance during the MC phases. It included 78 studies (total of 1193 participants, 18-40 years old, healthy, not taking hormonal contraceptives), although only 8% were valued as “high quality” and 24% as “moderate quality”.
We point out its main findings.