Effects of menstrual phase and amenorrhea on exercise performance in runners

DE SOUZA, MARY JANE; MAGUIRE, MOLLY S.; RUBIN, KAREN R.; MARESH, CARL M.

doi:10.1249/00005768-199010000-00006

Cited by 168Cardiovascular and exercise physiologySports Performance and TrainingHypothalamic control of reproductive hormones

Effects of menstrual phase and amenorrhea on exercise performance in runners

DE SOUZA, MARY JANE, MAGUIRE, MOLLY S., RUBIN, KAREN R., MARESH, CARL M.·1990·Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

DOI 10.1249/00005768-199010000-00006

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Abstract

There are few well controlled studies in terms of subject selection, menstrual classification, and exercise protocol that have examined both maximal and submaximal exercise responses during different phases of the menstrual cycle in eumenorrheic runners and compared these runners to amenorrheic runners. Thus, the purpose of this study was to measure selected physiological and metabolic responses to maximal and submaximal exercise during two phases of the menstrual cycle in eumenorrheic runners and amenorrheic runners. Eight eumenorrheic runners (29.0 +/- 4.2 yr) and eight amenorrheic runners (24.5 +/- 5.7 yr) matched for physical, gynecological, and training characteristics were studied. The eumenorrheic runners performed one maximal and one submaximal (40 min at 80% VO2max) treadmill run during both the early follicular (days 2-4) and midluteal (6-8 d from LH surge) phases. The amenorrheic runners performed one maximal and one submaximal (40 min at 80% VO2max) treadmill run. Cycle phases were documented by urinary luteinizing hormone and progesterone assays and by plasma estradiol and progesterone assays. No differences were observed in oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, heart rate, respiratory exchange ratio, rating of perceived exertion, time to fatigue (maximal), and plasma lactate (following the maximal and submaximal exercise tests) between the follicular and luteal phases in the eumenorrheic runners and the amenorrheic runners. We conclude that neither menstrual phase (follicular vs luteal) nor menstrual status (eumenorrheic vs amenorrheic) alters or limits exercise performance in female athletes.

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Some human studies report that female sex steroid hormones have no impact on substrate metabolism.
“However, some human studies are at odds with these findings (i.e., reporting that female sex steroid hormones have no impact on substrate metabolism) [6, 7].”
From The Effect of Sex Steroid Hormones on Substrate Oxidation during Prolonged Submaximal Exercise in Women. (2000) · cites this paper as [6]

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The Effect of Short and Long Term Endurance Training on Systemic, and Muscle and Prefrontal Cortex Tissue Oxygen Utilisation in 40 – 60 Year Old Women
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Authors: DE SOUZA, M. J., MAGUIRE, M. S., RUBIN, K. R., & MARESH, C. M.
Affiliations: University of Connecticut (US)
Venue: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published: 1990-10
Volume: 22
Issue: 5
Pages: 575-580
ISSN: 0195-9131 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1249/00005768-199010000-00006
OpenAlex: W2068805531
Cited by: 168
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 7 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
FWCI: 2.70
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
Keywords: menstrual cycle, amenorrhea, exercise performance, female runners, eumenorrhea, follicular phase, luteal phase, maximal exercise, submaximal exercise, oxygen consumption, plasma lactate, female athletes, hormonal status
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Amenorrhea, Energy Metabolism, Exercise Test, Female, Follicular Phase, Heart Rate, Humans, Lactates, Luteal Phase, Menstrual Cycle, Oxygen, Respiration, Running, Exercise

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Effects of menstrual phase and amenorrhea on exercise performance in runners

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