Training & movement
B · Reasonable confidenceDoes the menstrual cycle affect strength and strength training in women?
Subject: Current evidence shows no influence of women's menstrual cycle phase on acute strength performance or adaptations to resistance exercise training
What this means
Earlier reviews contradicted each other. The authors conclude it is premature to say cycle phase noticeably affects strength, performance or muscle growth (hypertrophy) from strength training.
Colenso-Semple LM, D'Souza AC, Elliott-Sale KJ, Phillips SM · 2023 · Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
What does this rating mean?
A solid systematic review with caveats, or consistent indications with a limited scope.
Findings
This umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses found highly variable findings on the influence of menstrual cycle phase on strength, performance and hypertrophy, and a pattern of poor methods for verifying cycle phase. The authors consider it premature to conclude that fluctuations in reproductive hormones appreciably influence acute performance or adaptations to resistance training.
Who this applies to
Women with a menstrual cycle who do strength training.
Size of the research
An overview of earlier summary studies; the number of studies and participants is not given in the abstract.
What to keep in mind
Many studies determined cycle phase poorly or inconsistently, which makes the results uncertain.
Practical conclusion for REZA
Umbrella-level confirmation of the same point across multiple reviews: cycle-phase-based periodisation has no solid scientific basis.
View method and source
Methodology
Evidence overview
Population
Umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on eumenorrheic women
Intervention
Resistance exercise performed in different menstrual cycle phases; cycle-phase-based ('phase-based') training periodisation
Outcome measures
Acute strength/force performance and longer-term resistance-training adaptations (strength, hypertrophy)
Limitations
Umbrella review/narrative synthesis rather than a new meta-analysis; constrained by the low methodological quality and small samples of the underlying primary literature; most primary studies did not hormonally verify cycle phase.
Original source
DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2023.1054542 · PMID: 37033884
View on PubMed →This information is general education about scientific research. It is not personal medical advice and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a doctor or other healthcare professional. If you have symptoms, a medical condition or take medication, consult your GP or treating professional before changing your training or nutrition.