Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Exercise and Cardiovascular Response

Exercise and Cardiovascular Response

Exercise significantly impacts cardiovascular response, which is crucial for understanding patient health and designing effective treatment plans.
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

Exercise and Muscle Performance

Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
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...

Birth Control Methods

Birth Control Methods

Vasectomy is a surgical form of male sterilization that involves severing and sealing the vasa deferentia, preventing sperm from mixing with semen during ejaculation. Because a vasectomy does not impact the testes' ability to produce testosterone, hormone levels, libido, and sexual function generally remain unchanged. While vasectomy is highly effective in preventing pregnancy, with a success rate near 99.85%, rare cases of recanalization (spontaneous reconnection) can occur. Although vasectomy...

Exercise and Cardiac Output

Exercise and Cardiac Output

Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

The ovarian cycle is meticulously regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This cycle orchestrates the release of a mature oocyte, essential for reproduction.
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...

Hormones and Bone Tissue

Hormones and Bone Tissue

The endocrine system produces and secretes hormones, which interact with the skeletal system. These hormones control bone growth, maintain bone once it is formed, and remodel it.
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Pancreatitis Risk Genes Play a Major Role in Pediatric Pancreatitis: Insights From the INternational Study Group of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In search for a cuRE.

Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association·2026

Same author

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in mature T- or NK-lymphomas: a phase II clinical trial.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of hereditary spastic paraplegia 56: insights from novel CYP2U1 variants and a literature review.

BMC neurology·2026

Same author

Expanding Access to Genome Sequencing: Higher Diagnostic Yield in Self-Referred Participants From the CincyKidsSeq Study and Implications for Hybrid Models of Genetic Service Delivery.

Clinical genetics·2025

Same author

The Experiences of Patients With Rare Diseases in Pennsylvania: A Community-Based Study.

Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)·2025

Same author

REMOVED: The Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Distally-Timed Eatg in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Conditioning.

Transplantation and cellular therapy·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

A Method to Study the Impact of Chemically-induced Ovarian Failure on Exercise Capacity and Cardiac Adaptation in Mice

A Method to Study the Impact of Chemically-induced Ovarian Failure on Exercise Capacity and Cardiac Adaptation in Mice

Published on: April 7, 2014

Athletic performance and the oral contraceptive.

Claire Rechichi¹, Brian Dawson, Carmel Goodman

¹School of Sports Science, Exercise, and Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

|July 2, 2009

Summary

Female athletes using oral contraceptives (OCs) may experience performance changes throughout their cycle. This review evaluates how hormones during the OC cycle impact athletic physiology and performance.

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Blood Lactate and Plasma Insulin During High-intensity Exercise by Antecubital Vein Catheterization

Evaluation of Blood Lactate and Plasma Insulin During High-intensity Exercise by Antecubital Vein Catheterization

Published on: May 18, 2018

Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players

Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players

Published on: June 10, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

A Method to Study the Impact of Chemically-induced Ovarian Failure on Exercise Capacity and Cardiac Adaptation in Mice

A Method to Study the Impact of Chemically-induced Ovarian Failure on Exercise Capacity and Cardiac Adaptation in Mice

Published on: April 7, 2014

Evaluation of Blood Lactate and Plasma Insulin During High-intensity Exercise by Antecubital Vein Catheterization

Evaluation of Blood Lactate and Plasma Insulin During High-intensity Exercise by Antecubital Vein Catheterization

Published on: May 18, 2018

Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players

Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players

Published on: June 10, 2025

Area of Science:

Sports Medicine
Exercise Physiology
Endocrinology

Background:

Menstrual cycle phase variations can affect female athletes' physiology and performance, but findings are inconsistent.
Challenges in tracking natural cycles (hormone variability, small sample sizes) hinder research.
Oral contraceptives (OCs) offer a more stable hormonal environment for studying these effects.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and evaluate existing literature on exercise physiology and athletic performance during the oral contraceptive (OC) cycle.
To investigate the impact of hormonal profiles within the OC cycle on athletic capabilities.
To address the growing prevalence of OC use among athletes and its performance implications.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies examining exercise performance and physiological responses in female athletes using oral contraceptives.
Analysis of research comparing within-cycle effects of oral contraceptive use.
Evaluation of studies investigating hormonal fluctuations (exogenous and endogenous) during the OC cycle.

Main Results:

Evidence suggests potential variations in aerobic performance, anaerobic capacity, and reactive strength throughout the OC cycle.
Hormonal profiles within the OC cycle may influence physiological responses during exercise.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the within-cycle effects of OCs on athletic performance.

Conclusions:

The oral contraceptive cycle presents a valuable model for studying hormonal influences on female athletic performance.
Understanding within-cycle hormonal changes is crucial for optimizing training and performance in athletes using OCs.
Continued research is essential to address the complex interplay between OCs, hormones, and athletic outcomes.