Anaerobic power performance and the menstrual cycle: eumenorrheic and oral contraceptive users

The purpose of this project was to compare the impact of the menstrual cycle on short-term, high intensity (power) performance in active females who either had normal menstrual cycles (NOC) or who were using oral contraceptives (OC).

Subjects (7 NOC, 17 OC) completed a Margaria-Kalamen staircase test and a Wingate cycle test on 3 occasions: one for familiarization and the other two trials (random order) during menses (MEN) or luteal (LUT) phase. Phase was documented by urinary luteinizing hormone for the NOC.

There were no significant differences between MEN and LUT in the NOC group on the Wingate test (n=7) for any of the following: peak power (P=0.33), peak power per kg body weight (P=0.37), anaerobic capacity (P=0.37), anaerobic capacity per kg body weight (P=0.42), power decline (P=0.36), power decline per kg body weight (P=0.35). Also there were no significant differences in power (P=0.95) for the Margaria-Kalamen test (n=6). There were no significant differences between MEN and LUT in the OC group for any of the following variables calculated from the subjects' performance on the Wingate test (n=17): peak power (P=0.39), peak power per kg body weight (P=0.36), anaerobic capacity (P=0.42), anaerobic capacity per kg body weight (P=0.36), power decline (P=0.57), power decline per kg body weight (P=0.66). Also there were no significant differences in power (P=0.44) for the Margaria-Kalamen test (n=11).

For a moderately active group of women, anaerobic power performance was not influenced by menstrual cycle phase in either NOC or OC users.