Self-Reported Performance and Hormonal-Cycle-Related Symptoms in Competitive Female Athletes
Abstract
Introduction: The present scientific consensus is that the menstrual cycle (MC) and hormonal contraceptive (HC) cycle only influence performance trivially. Nevertheless, athletes perceive changes in performance that they associate with different phases of their hormonal cycle.
Methods: A total of 959 female athletes completed a questionnaire, of which 750 were included in the present analysis. The questionnaire included questions about demographics and experiences of the MC and HC (symptoms, perceived impact on performance characteristics).
Results: In total, 55% of athletes reported a natural MC while 45% reported HC use. Meanwhile, 56% of all athletes reported a decline in perceived performance during the bleeding or inactive phase, whereas 26% of all athletes reported no changes in performance over their hormonal cycle. All athletes reported an average of 10 ± 7 symptoms during hormonal cycles. The naturally menstruating (NM) group reported more symptoms than the HC group (p < .05). The most frequent symptoms reported were abdominal pain, bloating, and mood swings. Only 7% of all athletes (4.1% in NM and 11.3% in HC) reported an absence of any symptoms. Quantity of total symptoms was associated with a perceived decrease in performance (R2 = .138, p < .05). Hormonal cycles had the greatest negative effect on mental performance with 37% reporting a large to very large effect.
Conclusions: Perceived negative effects on performance were similar in both NM and HC groups while perceived mental performance (e.g., mood and attention) appeared to be most affected by both MC and HC.
Main Authors
Format
Articles
Research article
Published
2024
Series
Subjects
Publication in research information system
Publisher
Human Kinetics Publishers
The permanent address of the publication
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202501301652Use this for linking
Review status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1063-6161
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2023-0102
Language
English
Published in
Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal
Citation
- Ihalainen, J. K., Takalo, S., Mjøsund, K., Solli, G. S., Valtonen, M., Kokkonen, M., Hackney, A. C., & Mikkonen, R. S. (2024). Self-Reported Performance and Hormonal-Cycle-Related Symptoms in Competitive Female Athletes. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 32(1), Article wspaj.2023-0102. https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2023-0102
Funder(s)
Urheiluopistosäätiö
Council of Tampere Region
Funding program(s)
Foundation
ERDF European Regional Development Fund, React-EU
Säätiö
EAKR Euroopan aluekehitysrahasto, React-EU
Additional information about funding
This study was conducted with the European Regional Development Fund #A74999 and Urheiluopistosäätiö, Grant Number 20190110 (Ihalainen).
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