The impact of menstrual-cycle phase on basal and exercise-induced hormones, mood, anxiety and exercise performance in physically active women

Paludo, Ana C; Cook, Christian J; Owen, Julian A; Woodman, Tim; Irwin, Jennifer; Crewther, Blair T

doi:10.23736/S0022-4707.20.10844-2

Author(s)

Paludo, Ana C

Cook, Christian J

Owen, Julian A

Woodman, Tim

Irwin, Jennifer

Crewther, Blair T

Publication Date

2021-03

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The influence of menstrual cycle phase on perceptual responses and exercise performance is still unclear in the literature. Therefore, this study investigated salivary estradiol (sal-E2) and cortisol (sal-C) concentrations, mood, anxiety and exercise (aerobic, anaerobic) performance in physically-active women across two menstrual-cycle phases. METHODS: Twelve women (mean age 24.9±4.3 years) were assessed in the early follicular (early-FP) and mid luteal (mid-LP) phase of their menstrual cycle. In each phase, participants were tested for both aerobic (i.e. VO2max) and anaerobic (i.e. peak power, average power and Fatigue Index) performance. Basal and exercise-induced changes in sal-E2 and sal-C concentrations, self-appraised mood and anxiety were assessed. RESULTS: We observed a significant increase in basal (pre-exercise) sal-E2 concentration from early-FP to mid-LP (P≤0.05), coupled with a significant increase in VO2max in early-FP (39.9±7.8 mL/kg/min) versus mid-LP (36.9±7.8 mL/kg/min). Depression also decreased with aerobic exercise, but only in the early-FP. No other significant menstrual-phase differences in exercise performance, emotional state or hormonal change scores were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that physically-active women may experience a natural rise in estradiol concentration, as they transition from the early-FP to mid-LP. In the present study, this was accompanied by a small reduction in VO2max. An exercise (aerobic)-related decline in depression also emerged in the early-FP. Most of the exercise performance, emotional state and hormonal measures did not exhibit any menstrual phase-related difference.

Citation

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 61(3), p. 461-467

ISSN

1827-1928

0022-4707

Pubmed ID

32550714

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/31765

Language

en

Publisher

Edizioni Minerva Medica

Title

The impact of menstrual-cycle phase on basal and exercise-induced hormones, mood, anxiety and exercise performance in physically active women

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Paludo, Ana C Cook, Christian J Owen, Julian A Woodman, Tim Irwin, Jennifer Crewther, Blair T
Publication Date	2021-03
Abstract	<p>BACKGROUND: The influence of menstrual cycle phase on perceptual responses and exercise performance is still unclear in the literature. Therefore, this study investigated salivary estradiol (sal-E<sub>2</sub>) and cortisol (sal-C) concentrations, mood, anxiety and exercise (aerobic, anaerobic) performance in physically-active women across two menstrual-cycle phases.<br/> METHODS: Twelve women (mean age 24.9±4.3 years) were assessed in the early follicular (early-FP) and mid luteal (mid-LP) phase of their menstrual cycle. In each phase, participants were tested for both aerobic (<i>i.e.</i> VO<sub>2max</sub>) and anaerobic (<i>i.e.</i> peak power, average power and Fatigue Index) performance. Basal and exercise-induced changes in sal-E<sub>2</sub> and sal-C concentrations, self-appraised mood and anxiety were assessed.<br/> RESULTS: We observed a significant increase in basal (pre-exercise) sal-E<sub>2</sub> concentration from early-FP to mid-LP (P≤0.05), coupled with a significant increase in VO<sub>2max</sub> in early-FP (39.9±7.8 mL/kg/min) <i>versus</i> mid-LP (36.9±7.8 mL/kg/min). Depression also decreased with aerobic exercise, but only in the early-FP. No other significant menstrual-phase differences in exercise performance, emotional state or hormonal change scores were identified.<br/> CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that physically-active women may experience a natural rise in estradiol concentration, as they transition from the early-FP to mid-LP. In the present study, this was accompanied by a small reduction in VO<sub>2max</sub>. An exercise (aerobic)-related decline in depression also emerged in the early-FP. Most of the exercise performance, emotional state and hormonal measures did not exhibit any menstrual phase-related difference.</p>
Citation	The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 61(3), p. 461-467
ISSN	1827-1928 0022-4707
Pubmed ID	32550714
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/31765
Language	en
Publisher	Edizioni Minerva Medica
Title	The impact of menstrual-cycle phase on basal and exercise-induced hormones, mood, anxiety and exercise performance in physically active women
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

The impact of menstrual-cycle phase on basal and exercise-induced hormones, mood, anxiety and exercise performance in physically active women

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