Milan P. Mladenović
Health Centre, General Hospital Vranje
Vedrana V. Karan
Aleksandar V. Klasnja, Jelena Z. Popadic Gacesa, Otto F. Barak
Department of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Olivera R. Markovic
Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Abstract
Each woman has different characteristics of menstrual cycle. The main problem is the
determination of period in which the measuring would be carried out, so that the results could be
directly linked to a certain hormone or phase of the menstrual cycle. Generally it could be said
that menstrual cycle does not influence muscle contractility and maximum oxygen consumption,
lactate level, heart rate, breathing volume, hemoglobin levels. Therefore, women who compete in
anaerobic and aerobic sports do not have to adjust competition schedules to their menstrual cycle.
On the other hand the increase of body temperature in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle,
possible cardiovascular strain in this phase, influence of progesterone on the respiratory center,
the rise of breathing frequency and volume can have negative influence on long-term intensive
sport activities. For this sort of activity female athletes are recommended to adjust their
competition schedule to menstrual cycle.
Keywords: menstrual cycle, hormone, exercise, sport, result
References
Bailez, S.P., Zacher, C.M., Mittelman, K.D.(2000). Effects of menstrual cycle phase on
carbohydrate supplementation during prolonged exercise to fatigue. J Appl Physol, 88(2),
690-697.
Bauman, J.E. (1981). Basal body temperature: unreliable method of ovulation detection. Fertil
Steril, 36(6), 729-733.
Beidelman, B.A., Rock,P.B., Muza, S.R. et al.(1999). Exercise VE and physical performance at
altitude are not affected by menstrual cycle phase. J Appl Physiol, 86 (5), 1519-1526.
Boenen, A., Haynes, F.J., Watson-Wright ,W. et al.(1983). Effects of menstrual cycle on
metabolic responses to exercise. J Appl Physol, 55 (5), 1506-1513.
Bunt, J.C. (1990). Metabolic actions of estradiol: significance for acute and chronic exercise
responses. Med Sci Sport Exerc, 22(3), 286-290.
Cole, L.A., Ladner, D.G., Bryn, F.W. (2008). The normal variability´s of the menstrual cycle.
Fertil steril.
De Sousa, M.J., Maguire, M.S., Rubin, K.R. et al.(1990). Effects of menstrual phase and
amenorrhea on exercise performance in runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 22 (5), 575-580.
De Souza, M.J., Miller, B.E., Loucks, A.B. et al. (1998). High frequency of luteal phase
deficiency and anovulation in recreational women runners: blunted elevation in follicle
stimulating hormone observed during luteal-follicular transition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab,
83(12),4220-4232.
Dempsey, J.A., Johnson, B.D.(1992). Demand vs capacity in the healthy pulmonary system.
Schweiz Z Sportmed, 40(2), 55-64.
DiBrezzo ,R., Fort, I.L., Brow, B.(1991). Relationships among strength, endurance, weight and
body fat during three phases of the menstrual cycle. J Sports Med Phys Fitness, 31(1), 89-
94.
Dombovy, M.L., Bonekat, H.W., Williams, T.J. et al. (1987). Exercise performance and
ventilatory response in the menstrual cycle. Med Sci Sports Exerc,19(2).111-117.
Filcori, M., Butler ,J.P., Crowley ,W.F. (1984). Neuroendocrine regulation of the corpus luteum
in the human: evidence of pulsatile progesterone secretion. J Clin Invest, 73 (6): 1638-
1647.
Galati, G., Trepani, E., Yacoub, M., Fioreli,C., Bandeira,F., Paolillo, A.(1994). A new test for
human female ovulation diagnosis. Progress report: International Review of Medical
Sciences, 6(1).
Menstrual cycle and maximal sport result
Graves, J.P., Cable, N.T., Reilly ,T. The relationship between maximal muscle strength and
reproductive hormones during the menstrual cycle. 4th Annual Congress of the European
College of Sport Science; 1999 Jul 14-17; Rome, 189.
Harlow, S.D., Ephross, S.A. (1995). Epidemiology of menstruation and its relevance to women´s
health. Epidemiol Rev, 17 (2), 265-286.
Horvath, S.M., Drinkwater, B.L. (1982).Thermoregulation and the menstrual cycle. Aviat Space
Environ Med, 53 (8), 790-794.
Jance de Jonge,X.A.K., Boot, C.R.L., Thom, J.M. et al.(2001). The influence of menstrual cycle
phase on skeletal muscle contractile characteristics in humans. J Physol, 530(1), 161-166.
Jurkowski, J.E., Jones, N.L., Toews, C.J. et al. (1981).Effects of menstrual cycle on blood lactate,
O2 delivery, and performance during exercise. J Appl Physol, 51 (6),1493-1499.
Jurkowski, J.E., Jones,N.L., Walker, C. et al.(1978). Ovarian hormonal response to exercise. Appl
Physiol, 44(1), 109-114.
Keiser, H.A., Rogol, A.D. (1990). Physical exercise and menstrual cycle alterations: what are the
mechanisms? Sports Med, 10 (4), 218-235.
Leburn, C.M., McKenzie, D.C., Prior, J.C. et al.(1995). Effects of menstrual cycle phase on
athletic performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 27 (3), 437-444.
Marshall, J.(1963). Thermal changes in the normal menstrual cycle. BMJ, 12, 102-104.
McCracken, M., Anisworth, B., Hackney, A.C.(1994). Effects of the menstrual cycle phase on
the blood lactate response to exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol, 69 (2),174-175.
Miler, P.B., Soules, M.R. (1996). The usefulness of urinary LH kit for ovulation prediction
during menstrual cycles of normal women. Obstet Gynecol, 87(1), 13-17.
Nicklas, B.J., Hackney, A.C., Sharp, R.L.(1989). The menstrual cycle and exercise: performance,
muscle glycogen, and substrate responses. Int J Sports Exerc, 10 (4), 264-269.
Phillips, S.K., Sanderson, A.G., Birch,K. at al.(1996). Changes in maximal voluntary force of
human abductor pollicis muscle during the menstrual cycle. J.Physol, 496 (Pt2), 551-557.
Sarwar, R., Niclos, B.B., Rutherford, O.M. (1996). Changes in muscle strength, relaxation rate
and fatigability during the human menstrual cycle. J. Physol, 493 (Pt1), 267-272.
Schoene, R.B., Robertson, H.T., Pierson, D.J. et al.(1981). Respiratory drives and exercise in
menstrual cycles of athletic and nonathletic women. J APP Physol, 50 (6), 1300-1305.
Syroup, C.H., Hammond, M.G. (1987). Diurnal variations in midluteal serum progesterone
measurements. Fertil Steril, 47 (1), 67-70.
Williams, T.J., Krahenbuhl, G.S.(1997). Menstrual