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Updated: Jul 27, 2026

A Method to Study the Impact of Chemically-induced Ovarian Failure on Exercise Capacity and Cardiac Adaptation in Mice
Published on: April 7, 2014
Oral contraceptives, exercise, and acute mountain sickness in women
D A Sandoval1, D P Maes, L D'Acquisto
1Central Washington University, Department of Physical Education, Health Education, and Leisure Services, Ellensburg, WA, USA. darleen.sandoval@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Background:
Previous research has found that exercise exacerbated acute mountain sickness (AMS) in men.
Purpose:
The current study tested this relationship in women taking oral contraceptives.
Methods:
We studied seven women at 428 mmHg for 10 h; once while at rest (R) and once while performing intermittent exercise (EX).
Results:
AMS scores had a slight increase at 9 vs. 0 h at altitude in both trials (p < 0.05). Resting measurements of ventilation (VE), arterial oxygen saturation (SPO2), end tidal O2 (PETO2), and end tidal CO2 (PETCO2) were not different over time or between trials (p > 0.05). While fluid intake did not change, urine output increased during the 0-3 h period, regardless of trial, and returned to baseline values by the 6-9 h period (218 +/- 37 vs. 121 +/- 22 ml x h(-1); p < 0.05). During exercise, SPO2 significantly dropped compared with similar time points in R (73.1 +/- 1.1 vs. 85.7 +/- 1.8%; p < 0.05). Despite exercise-induced desaturation, the AMS scores were not significantly different between R and EX.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that oral contraceptives may cause a compensation for the physiological responses to exercise critical for the development of AMS.
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