The Impact of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Perceived Performance
The menstrual cycle (MC) phase has a significant impact on athletes’ perceived performance. Carmichael et al. (2021) indicate that menstrual cycle phases have adverse effects on training and competition for 50–71% and 49–65% of athletes, respectively. Additionally, certain phases of the MC, such as follicular and late luteal stages, change the apparent speed, power ratings, and strength of athletes. The decline of perceived performance in the mentioned phases is associated with menstrual symptoms like pain and concern about flooding. Serotonin production during early follicular and late luteal phases explains the augmented perception of fatigue and distraction, which are risk factors for reduced performance. Carmichael et al. (2021) note that low levels of estrogen during these phases reduce the amount of serotonin produced, leading to fatigue and impairing competition and training performance among female athletes.
Effects of MC Phase on Anaerobic Performance
The effects of the MC phase on anaerobic performance vary among female athletes. While few studies reviewed by Carmichael et al. (2021) show that anaerobic performance varies with the MC phase, most of them demonstrated that the latter has no effect on the former. Most performances that take a maximum of 3 minutes are rarely affected by any phase of the MC. However, Carmichael et al. (2021) found that sprint performance, peak power, and vertical jump height increased during mid-luteal, ovulatory, and follicular phases, respectively. Elevated levels of estrogen during the ovulatory phase raise force production, leading to increased peak power. Notably, tasks such as multiple jumps and sprinting remain as well as performances that demand rapid force production unaffected across MC phases because tissue stiffness does not change.
Effects of MC Phase on Muscular Strength
The MC phase has a varying effect on the athletes’ muscular strength. Carmichael et al. (2021) indicate that hormone concentration is an essential factor that can explain the change in muscular strength during certain phases of the MC. Estrogen and progesterone concentration during the early late follicular phase increases strength performance. However, other studies reviewed by Carmichael et al. (2021) show that muscular strength outcome is higher in the mid and late luteal phases than in the early follicular phase. The MC phase effects on muscular strength also depend on limbs. The dominant handgrip strength increases during the menstrual cycle’s late follicular phase. Additionally, changing the hamstring to quadriceps strength ratio is insignificant in the dominant limb but is lower in the non-dominant one during the late follicular than in the late luteal phase.
Effects of MC Phase on Aerobic Performance
Menstrual cycle phases have varying effects on the athletes’ aerobic performance. While few studies reviewed by Carmichael et al. (2021) demonstrate that MC impacts aerobic performance outcomes, most of them concluded that it has no effects on the latter. For instance, the MC does not alter various endurance performances such as rowing and maximal trending mill. Nevertheless, the MC phase influences the intermittent endurance performance. Carmichael et al. (2021) indicate that the performance and fatigability increase and decrease, respectively, during the early and late follicular phases. Such outcomes are associated with the possible absence of high cardiovascular and thermoregulatory strain in the luteal phase. The shift towards greater cardiovascular, metabolic, and thermoregulatory strain in the mid-luteal phase impairs the running economy, leading to reduced efficiency.
Overall Impact of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Physical Performance
Menstrual cycle phases have mixed impacts on athletes’ physical performance. Carmichael et al. (2021) found that MC phases do not enhance or impair physical performance after reviewing 20 and 35 studies. Conversely, 15 pieces of research confirmed that MC phases affect at least one physical performance outcome. Unlike other MC phases, early follicular and late luteal phases lower performance, possibly because of menstrual symptoms. Nevertheless, McNulty et al. (2020) indicate that MC’s early follicular phase slightly lowers athletes’ overall performance compared to other stages. Although there are inconsistent findings on the effects of MC phases on physical performance, it is evidence that muscular strength, aerobic, anaerobic, and endurance performances are either enhanced or impaired by MC’s follicular, luteal, and ovulatory phases.
References
Carmichael, M., Thomson, R., Moran, L., & Wycherley, T. (2021). The impact of menstrual cycle phase on athletes’ performance: A narrative review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1667. Web.
McNulty, K., Elliott-Sale, K., Dolan, E., Swinton, P., Ansdell, P., Goodall, S. Thomas, K., & Hicks, K. (2020). The effects of menstrual cycle phase on exercise performance in eumenorrheic women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 50(10), 1813-1827. Web.