Training & movement
B · Reasonable confidenceHow the menstrual cycle affects exercise performance in women
Subject: The Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Exercise Performance in Eumenorrheic Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
What this means
Exercise performance was very slightly lower at the start of the cycle (early follicular phase) than in other phases. The difference was trivial for both endurance and strength.
Kelly L McNulty, Kirsty J Elliott-Sale, Eimear Dolan, Paul A Swinton, Paul Ansdell, Stuart Goodall, Kevin Thomas, Kirsty M Hicks · 2020 · Sports Medicine
What does this rating mean?
A solid systematic review with caveats, or consistent indications with a limited scope.
Findings
Exercise performance was trivially reduced during the early follicular phase compared with all other cycle phases, but the pooled effect was very small and its credible interval crossed zero. General guidance on menstrual-cycle-based training prescription cannot be given; any approach must be individualised.
Who this applies to
Women with a regular menstrual cycle.
What to keep in mind
The quality of evidence was low and studies varied widely. General guidelines therefore cannot be given. The authors advise looking at each individual's response.
Practical conclusion for REZA
Reason not to routinely adjust training schedules to the menstrual cycle — the effect is too small and unreliable to base general rules on; individual tailoring remains the starting point.
View method and source
Methodology
Meta-analysis
Population
78 studies, 1193 eumenorrheic (naturally menstruating) women
Intervention
Comparison of exercise performance across menstrual cycle phases (early follicular, late follicular, ovulatory, mid-luteal, late luteal)
Outcome measures
Exercise performance outcomes including strength, power, endurance and sport-specific performance
Limitations
Overall evidence quality rated low (42% of studies low quality); wide variability in cycle-phase verification methods; heterogeneous performance outcomes pooled together; most studies underpowered for within-subject cycle comparisons.
Original source
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-020-01319-3 · PMID: 32661839
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.