Perceived impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on physical exercise and performance in 1,086 athletes from 57 sports
Female athletes train and compete under the potential influence of hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle or during use of various hormonal contraceptives. Dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptoms are common in the general population, as well as side effects of hormonal contraceptives. More...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.954760/full |
| _version_ | 1818494960427597824 |
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| author | Linda Ekenros Philip von Rosen Guro Strøm Solli Guro Strøm Solli Øyvind Sandbakk Øyvind Sandbakk Hans-Christer Holmberg Hans-Christer Holmberg Angelica Lindén Hirschberg Angelica Lindén Hirschberg Cecilia Fridén Cecilia Fridén |
| author_facet | Linda Ekenros Philip von Rosen Guro Strøm Solli Guro Strøm Solli Øyvind Sandbakk Øyvind Sandbakk Hans-Christer Holmberg Hans-Christer Holmberg Angelica Lindén Hirschberg Angelica Lindén Hirschberg Cecilia Fridén Cecilia Fridén |
| author_sort | Linda Ekenros |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Female athletes train and compete under the potential influence of hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle or during use of various hormonal contraceptives. Dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptoms are common in the general population, as well as side effects of hormonal contraceptives. More detailed knowledge concerning prevalence and perceived impact of these symptoms on training and performance in different sports is required. The aim of the study was to 1) characterize perceptions of training and performance during the menstrual cycle phases and by hormonal contraceptive use in a large population of female athletes; 2) explore whether symptoms experienced are related to perceived performance; and 3) examine potential differences in these factors between athletes at different levels of performance. The study was based on self-reported data from 1,086 athletes from 57 sports at different performance levels via a web-based questionnaire. Thirty-seven percent (n = 407) of the athletes did not use hormonal contraceptives. In this group, menstrual cycle related symptoms were common across all athlete levels, particularly dysmenorrhea (74%, n = 300) and premenstrual symptoms (78%, n = 318), which also influenced perceived performance of aerobic fitness, muscle strength, mental sharpness, balance, and sleep quality. Sixty-three percent (n = 679) of the athletes used various hormonal contraceptives and 40% (n = 272) perceived a variety of side-effects. Physical performance was experienced equally independent of time-point of the pill-chart except for the period of inactive pills, which was associated with more negative impact. Nonetheless, only 18% (n = 191) of the athletes considered menstrual cycle or hormonal contraceptive issues when planning their training or competitions. These results indicate that greater focus is needed to identify and effectively treat different menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive related symptoms on an individual level. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:13:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eec981890f08422083f11daec67936dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:13:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-eec981890f08422083f11daec67936dc2022-12-22T01:38:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2022-08-011310.3389/fphys.2022.954760954760Perceived impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on physical exercise and performance in 1,086 athletes from 57 sportsLinda Ekenros0Philip von Rosen1Guro Strøm Solli2Guro Strøm Solli3Øyvind Sandbakk4Øyvind Sandbakk5Hans-Christer Holmberg6Hans-Christer Holmberg7Angelica Lindén Hirschberg8Angelica Lindén Hirschberg9Cecilia Fridén10Cecilia Fridén11Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, SwedenDepartment of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, SwedenSchool of Sport Sciences, UiT, the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nord University, Bodø, NorwaySchool of Sport Sciences, UiT, the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Centre for Elite Sports Research, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Health Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, SwedenDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedicum C5, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, SwedenDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenFemale athletes train and compete under the potential influence of hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle or during use of various hormonal contraceptives. Dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptoms are common in the general population, as well as side effects of hormonal contraceptives. More detailed knowledge concerning prevalence and perceived impact of these symptoms on training and performance in different sports is required. The aim of the study was to 1) characterize perceptions of training and performance during the menstrual cycle phases and by hormonal contraceptive use in a large population of female athletes; 2) explore whether symptoms experienced are related to perceived performance; and 3) examine potential differences in these factors between athletes at different levels of performance. The study was based on self-reported data from 1,086 athletes from 57 sports at different performance levels via a web-based questionnaire. Thirty-seven percent (n = 407) of the athletes did not use hormonal contraceptives. In this group, menstrual cycle related symptoms were common across all athlete levels, particularly dysmenorrhea (74%, n = 300) and premenstrual symptoms (78%, n = 318), which also influenced perceived performance of aerobic fitness, muscle strength, mental sharpness, balance, and sleep quality. Sixty-three percent (n = 679) of the athletes used various hormonal contraceptives and 40% (n = 272) perceived a variety of side-effects. Physical performance was experienced equally independent of time-point of the pill-chart except for the period of inactive pills, which was associated with more negative impact. Nonetheless, only 18% (n = 191) of the athletes considered menstrual cycle or hormonal contraceptive issues when planning their training or competitions. These results indicate that greater focus is needed to identify and effectively treat different menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive related symptoms on an individual level.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.954760/fullamenorrheadysmenorrheahormones and athletespremenstrual symptomsex hormone |
| spellingShingle | Linda Ekenros Philip von Rosen Guro Strøm Solli Guro Strøm Solli Øyvind Sandbakk Øyvind Sandbakk Hans-Christer Holmberg Hans-Christer Holmberg Angelica Lindén Hirschberg Angelica Lindén Hirschberg Cecilia Fridén Cecilia Fridén Perceived impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on physical exercise and performance in 1,086 athletes from 57 sports Frontiers in Physiology amenorrhea dysmenorrhea hormones and athletes premenstrual symptom sex hormone |
| title | Perceived impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on physical exercise and performance in 1,086 athletes from 57 sports |
| title_full | Perceived impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on physical exercise and performance in 1,086 athletes from 57 sports |
| title_fullStr | Perceived impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on physical exercise and performance in 1,086 athletes from 57 sports |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceived impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on physical exercise and performance in 1,086 athletes from 57 sports |
| title_short | Perceived impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on physical exercise and performance in 1,086 athletes from 57 sports |
| title_sort | perceived impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on physical exercise and performance in 1 086 athletes from 57 sports |
| topic | amenorrhea dysmenorrhea hormones and athletes premenstrual symptom sex hormone |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.954760/full |
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