TY - JOUR

T1 - The impact of menstrual-cycle phase on basal and exercise-induced hormones, mood, anxiety and exercise performance in physically-active women

AU - Paludo, Ana-Carolina

AU - Cook, Christian

AU - Owen, Julian

AU - Woodman, Tim

AU - Irwin, Jennifer

AU - Crewther, Blair

PY - 2021/3

Y1 - 2021/3

N2 - BACKGROUND: The influence of menstrual cycle phase in perceptual responses and exercise performance still unclear in the literature. Therefore, the main aim of 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 a 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 around exercise testing.RESULTS: We observed a significant increase in sal-E2 concentration from early-FP to mid-LP in both cycle (p ≤ 0.05), coupled with a significant increase on VO2max (39.9 ± 7.8 ml/kg/min vs 36.9 ± 7.8 ml/kg/min). Both aerobic and anaerobic exercise testing was followed by significant reduction in depression, tension and/or vigor during in the early- FP (p ≤ 0.05), but not the mid-LP.CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that physically-active women present a significant change in tension and aerobic performance, which might be linked to temporal changes in sal- E2 concentrations. Moreover, both aerobic and anaerobic exercise can be an option to reduce negative mood during the early-FP.

AB - BACKGROUND: The influence of menstrual cycle phase in perceptual responses and exercise performance still unclear in the literature. Therefore, the main aim of 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 a 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 around exercise testing.RESULTS: We observed a significant increase in sal-E2 concentration from early-FP to mid-LP in both cycle (p ≤ 0.05), coupled with a significant increase on VO2max (39.9 ± 7.8 ml/kg/min vs 36.9 ± 7.8 ml/kg/min). Both aerobic and anaerobic exercise testing was followed by significant reduction in depression, tension and/or vigor during in the early- FP (p ≤ 0.05), but not the mid-LP.CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that physically-active women present a significant change in tension and aerobic performance, which might be linked to temporal changes in sal- E2 concentrations. Moreover, both aerobic and anaerobic exercise can be an option to reduce negative mood during the early-FP.

U2 - https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.20.10844-2

DO - https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.20.10844-2

M3 - Article

VL - 61

SP - 461

EP - 467

JO - Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness

JF - Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness

SN - 0022-4707

IS - 3

ER -