Training & movement
B · Reasonable confidenceHow the contraceptive pill affects exercise performance in women
Subject: The Effects of Oral Contraceptives on Exercise Performance in Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
What this means
Pill users may have performed slightly worse on average than naturally menstruating women; the difference was most likely trivial. Performance was the same on pill days and in the pill-free week.
Kirsty J Elliott-Sale, Kelly L McNulty, Paul Ansdell, Stuart Goodall, Kirsty M Hicks, Kevin Thomas, Paul A Swinton, Eimear Dolan · 2020 · Sports Medicine
What does this rating mean?
A solid systematic review with caveats, or consistent indications with a limited scope.
Findings
Oral contraceptive use had only trivial effects on exercise performance, with credible intervals overlapping zero. There is no evidence-based reason to expect meaningful performance impairment from OC use, though the evidence quality is limited.
Who this applies to
Women using the oral contraceptive pill, compared with women with a natural menstrual cycle.
Size of the research
42 studies with a total of 590 participants.
What to keep in mind
83% of the studies were of moderate to very low quality, and results varied considerably between studies.
Practical conclusion for REZA
Reason to reassure clients on the contraceptive pill: there's no evidence-based reason to expect a noticeable drop in exercise performance.
View method and source
Methodology
Meta-analysis
Population
42 studies, 590 women using or not using oral contraceptives
Intervention
Oral contraceptive use vs. non-use (and comparisons across OC pill-taking vs. withdrawal phases)
Outcome measures
Exercise performance outcomes including strength, power and endurance measures
Limitations
83% of included studies were of moderate, low or very low quality; wide variety of OC formulations, doses and generations pooled together; small sample sizes; few studies in trained athletes.
Original source
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-020-01317-5 · PMID: 32666247
View on PubMed →American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and Quality of Exercise for Developing and Maintaining Cardiorespiratory, Musculoskeletal, and Neuromotor Fitness in Apparently Healthy Adults: Guidance for Prescribing Exercise
Next study →A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Resistance Training on Whole-Body Muscle Growth in Healthy Adult Males
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.