[Effect of menstrual cycle on cardiorespiratory system during incremental exercise]

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Reproductive Endocrinology

Context:

• Athletes' perceptions suggest performance varies across the menstrual cycle.
• Limited empirical data exists on objective performance differences between follicular and luteal phases.
• Understanding these variations is crucial for optimizing training and competition strategies.

Purpose:

• To investigate the impact of the menstrual cycle (follicular vs. luteal phase) on the cardiorespiratory system during exercise in elite female basketball players.
• To determine if objective physiological differences exist that support athletes' beliefs about phase-specific performance.

Summary:

• Elite basketball players underwent incremental cycle ergometer testing, with monitored ECG, heart rate (HR), and respiratory measures (VE, VO2, VCO2, R, Resp. E.). Blood lactate was also measured.
• While HR was higher in the luteal phase, and some respiratory measures and lactate accumulation showed tendencies toward differences, no statistically significant variations in cardiorespiratory function were found between the follicular and luteal phases.
• The study did not conclusively identify a superior phase for competitive sports based on cardiorespiratory responses.

Impact:

• Provides objective physiological data on menstrual cycle phase effects on exercise capacity in elite female athletes.
• Challenges anecdotal evidence by showing no significant performance differences in cardiorespiratory function.
• Informs future research directions and practical recommendations for athlete training and scheduling.