Effects of the Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraceptive Use on Health and Performance in Athletes

A review of the sports medicine literature reveals a clear underrepresentation of female athletes in research. In the current era of precision medicine, increasing attention has been directed toward the regulatory roles of estrogen and progesterone in athletic performance and health optimization. Regular fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone across menstrual cycle phases (i.e., early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal phases) may influence strength performance, hydration status, body composition, and energy balance. However, few studies have examined these outcomes using hormonal confirmation of menstrual cycle phases. Monophasic oral contraceptive use also represents a highly relevant hormonal condition among female athletes, as exogenous hormones suppress endogenous ovarian fluctuations and create distinct hormonal profiles across active pill-consumption and withdrawal phases. Nevertheless, the influence of oral contraceptive phases on strength-related outcomes, hydration markers, body water regulation, body composition, and energy balance remains insufficiently characterized, particularly in comparison with naturally menstruating athletes. In response to these gaps, this longitudinal observational study primarily aims to examine variations in strength-related outcomes across three distinct menstrual cycle phases (early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal) in eumenorrheic athletes. Secondary objectives include: (i) conducting within- and between-group c…

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Flávio Jerónimo  ·  +351 910 928 710  ·  flaviovjeronimo@gmail.com

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