Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
Reproductive profile of physically active men after exhaustive endurance exercise
D Vaamonde1, M E Da Silva, M S Poblador
1Morphofunctional Sciences in Sports Laboratory, School of Medicine, Universidad de Córdoba, C/Damasco 22, 6-1, 14004 Córdoba, Spain. fivresearch@yahoo.com
Short-term exhaustive endurance exercise (EEE) in recreational athletes caused reversible changes in reproductive hormones and sperm parameters. These effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis normalized within days of ceasing exercise.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Endurance exercise (EE) is common in athletes and can impact reproductive function.
- Previous studies focused on professional athletes; less is known about recreational athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if EE in recreational athletes alters reproductive parameters.
- To assess the reversibility of these exercise-induced changes.
Main Methods:
- 16 healthy males divided into experimental (8) and control (8) groups.
- Experimental group underwent 2 weeks of cycloergometer-based exhaustive endurance exercise (EEE) 4x/week.
- Hormonal and seminological profiles were assessed before, during, and after the exercise period.
Main Results:
- Two weeks of EEE significantly altered hormonal (FSH, LH) and seminological (sperm concentration, motility, morphology) profiles.
- Changes in the experimental group differed significantly from their own pre-treatment values and control group values.
- Most measured parameters returned to near pre-treatment levels within 2-3 days after EEE cessation.
Conclusions:
- Recreational athletes undergoing EEE experience reproductive changes similar to professional athletes.
- Short-term EEE induces a reversible alteration in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.
More Related Videos
07:40Impact of High-intensity Interval Exercise and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise on the Cardiac Troponin T Level at an Early Stage of Training
Published on: October 10, 2019
09:24A Rapidly Incremented Tethered-Swimming Maximal Protocol for Cardiorespiratory Assessment of Swimmers
Published on: January 28, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
Muscle Recovery and Fatigue
Exercise Stress Test
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis
Several factors influence the erythrocyte production rate, with tissue oxygen level being among the most critical. Intense exercise or high altitudes can cause tissue hypoxia, which triggers the kidneys to release more erythropoietin (EPO) into the bloodstream.
EPO then...