Recreational exercise does not impair menstrual cycles: a prospective study.

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Concerns exist regarding the impact of exercise intensity and volume on female reproductive health.
• Previous studies have yielded mixed results on the relationship between athletic training and menstrual cycle function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if recreational running levels provoke short luteal phase menstrual cycles.
• To assess the effects of varying running mileage on hormonal profiles and cycle length.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 57 women aged 18-40 with normal cardiorespiratory fitness.
• Subjects underwent baseline calisthenics, followed by assigned running regimens ( <10, 10-20, or 20-30 mi/wk) for 2 or 4 months.
• Hormonal assays (LH, FSH, P) and cycle length measurements were performed throughout the study.

Main Results:

• Cardiovascular fitness improved significantly (p<0.05) without changes in body weight or body fat.
• No significant changes in Luteinizing Hormone (LH) were observed across any running groups.
• While some fluctuations in Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Progesterone (P) occurred, they lacked a consistent pattern, and menstrual cycle length and luteal phase length remained unaltered (p>0.05).

Conclusions:

• Recreational running up to 30 miles per week for up to 4 months does not adversely affect menstrual cycle length or luteal phase duration in healthy women.
• Moderate jogging appears safe for reproductive health in gynecologically mature women.