Impact of the menstrual cycle on athletic performance
Abstract
This systematic review analyzed the impact of the menstrual cycle (MC) on the athletic performance of athletes, examining scientific production between 2019 and 2024. The IMRyD model was applied, using databases such as PubMed, SciELO, and Scopus. Studies with samples of eumenorrheic female athletes were included, excluding those with non-athletic or menopausal women. The analysis revealed a concentration of publications between 2020 and 2021 (66.7%), with a predominance of systematic reviews (38.9%) and experimental studies (33.3%). A growing awareness was observed regarding the influence of hormonal and psychological fluctuations on performance. The most studied indicators were physical performance (72.7%), perception of performance (50%), and female sports health (27.8%). A tendency to compare the follicular and luteal phases was identified, finding in some cases a lower physical performance during the luteal phase. The perception of exertion was also studied, which was found to be greater during the luteal phase. It is concluded that CM influences athletic performance, both physical and psychological, and emphasizes the need to individualize training based on the CM phases to optimize athletes' performance and well-being.
Downloads
References
Aburto-Corona, J. A., Gil González, I. J., Vega Aguilar, V. N., & Calleja Núñez, J. J. (2021). El ciclo menstrual no afecta el desempeño físico de jóvenes eumenorreicas (Menstrual cycle does not affect physical performance in eumenorrheic youth). Retos, 39, 264–266. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v0i39.77779
Arenas-Pareja, M. L. Á., López-Sierra, P., Ibáñez, S. J., & García-Rubio, J. (2023). Influence of Menstrual Cycle on Internal and External Load in Professional Women Basketball Players. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 11(6), 822. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060822
Carmichael MA, Thomson RL, Moran LJ, Wycherley TP. The Impact of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Athletes' Performance: A Narrative Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb 9;18(4):1667. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041667. PMID: 33572406; PMCID: PMC7916245.
Carter, J. B., & Joyner, M. J. (2016). Effects of the menstrual cycle on isometric muscle strength and power in trained women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 30(12), 3389-3394.
Colenso-Semple, L. M., D'Souza, A. C., Elliott-Sale, K. J., & Phillips, S. M. (2023). Current evidence shows no influence of women's menstrual cycle phase on acute strength performance or adaptations to resistance exercise training. Frontiers in sports and active living, 5, 1054542. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1054542
Dasa MS, Kristoffersen M, Ersvær E, Bovim LP, Bjørkhaug L, Moe-Nilssen R, Sagen JV, Haukenes I. (2021). The Female Menstrual Cycles Effect on Strength and Power Parameters in High-Level Female Team Athletes. Front Physiol. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.600668. PMID: 33692699; PMCID: PMC7937612.
Dominguez Muñoz, C., del Campo Vecino, J., García Bataller, A., & Llin Más, J. (2024). Perceptual assessment of physical and psychological performance depending on the type of training performed and the phases of the menstrual cycle in female athletes. Retos, 51, 864–871. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v51.101374
Ekenros, L., von Rosen, P., Solli, G. S., Sandbakk, Ø., Holmberg, H. C., Hirschberg, A. L., & Fridén, C. (2022). Perceived impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on physical exercise and performance in 1,086 athletes from 57 sports. Frontiers in physiology, 13, 954760. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.954760
Findlay, R., Macrae, E., Whyte, I., Easton, C., & Whyte, L. (2020). How the menstrual cycle and menstruation affect sporting performance: experiences and perceptions of elite female rugby players. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54, 1108 - 1113. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101486.
Giménez-Blasi, N. ., Latorre, J. A. ., Martínez-Bebia, M. ., Sáenz, M. ., Cantero, L. ., López-Moro, A. ., Jimenez-Casquet, M. J. ., Conde-Pipo, J. ., & Mariscal-Arcas, M. (2022). Ciclo menstrual y deporte: efectos sobre el rendimiento y el metabolismo de la mujer deportista (Menstrual Cycle and Sport: effects on the performance and metabolism of the athlete woman). Retos, 46, 565–572. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v46.94614
Guyton & Hall. Tratado de fisiología médica. (2021). España: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Ihalainen, J. K., Kettunen, O., McGawley, K., Solli, G. S., Hackney, A. C., Mero, A. A., & Kyröläinen, H. (2021). Body composition, energy availability, training, and menstrual status in female runners. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 16(7), 1043-1048. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2020-0276
Janse de Jonge, X. A. K., & Thompson, B. M. (2023). Adapting Training to the Menstrual Cycle. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 18(8), 793. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2023-0234
Janse DE Jonge, X., Thompson, B., & Han, A. (2019). Methodological Recommendations for Menstrual Cycle Research in Sports and Exercise. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 51(12), 2610–2617. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002073
Julian, R., Hecksteden, A., Fullagar, H., & Meyer, T. (2017). The effects of menstrual cycle phase on physical performance in female soccer players. PLoS ONE, 12. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0173951.
McEwen, B. M., Smith, M. J., & Norton, K. L. (2020). Effects of the menstrual cycle on muscle power and aerobic capacity in cyclists. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 120(11), 2097-2105.
McNamara, A., Harris, R., & Minahan, C. (2022). 'That time of the month' … for the biggest event of your career! Perception of menstrual cycle on performance of Australian athletes training for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 8(2), e001300. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001300
McNulty, K. L., Elliott-Sale, K. J., Dolan, E., Swinton, P. A., Ansdell, P., Goodall, S., Thomas, K., & Hicks, K. M. (2020). The Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Exercise Performance in Eumenorrheic Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 50(10), 1813–1827. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01319-3
Meignié A, Duclos M, Carling C, Orhant E, Provost P, Toussaint JF, Antero J. The Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Elite Athlete Performance: A Critical and Systematic Review. Front Physiol. 2021 May 19;12:654585. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.654585. PMID: 34093223; PMCID: PMC8170151.
Meyer, A. L., Hackney, M. R., & Herring, A. T. (2020). The menstrual cycle and performance in swimming: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 50(3), 609-625.
Paludo AC, Paravlic A, Dvořáková K, Gimunová M. The Effect of Menstrual Cycle on Perceptual Responses in Athletes: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Front Psychol. 2022 Jul 13;13:926854. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.926854. PMID: 35911030; PMCID: PMC9328165.
Pilarczyk, I., Sawczuk, A., Bronikowska, M., Telenga, B., Chmura, J., & Kasprzyk, G. (2021). Effect of hormonal periodization training on performance of 800 m runners: A pilot study. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35(5), 1324-1331.
Silva, P. C., Marques, M. A., Oliveira, T. G., & Gentil, P. (2024). Effects of menstrual cycle on muscle performance and perceived exertion in basketball players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 38(3), 822-830.
Thompson, B., Almarjawi, A., Sculley, D., & Janse de Jonge, X. (2020). The effect of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on acute responses and chronic adaptations to resistance training: A systematic review of the literature. Sports Medicine, 50(1), 171-185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01219-1
Urdampilleta, A., Martínez-Sanz, J., & Cejuela, R. (2012). Indicadores del rendimiento deportivo. Efdeportes. https://www.efdeportes.com/efd173/indicadores-del-rendimiento-deportivo.htm
Vena W, Paschou SA. Sports and the menstrual cycle. Case Rep Womens Health. 2021 Nov 3;33:e00367. doi: 10.1016/j.crwh.2021.e00367. PMID: 34804813; PMCID: PMC8581259.
Wilmore, J. H., & Costill, D. L. (2007). Fisiología del esfuerzo y del deporte. España: Paidotribo
Copyright (c) 2025 Marjoury Jacqueline Vinueza Chimarro
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
