The Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Exercise Performance in Eumenorrheic Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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)

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.

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