Menstrual Phase and Postmatch Perceptual Recovery Responses for Naturally Menstruating Football Players

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Understanding the menstrual cycle's influence on athletic performance and recovery is crucial for female athletes.
• Perceptual responses, such as fatigue and soreness, are key indicators of recovery status.
• Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding the impact of menstrual phases on physical performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how different menstrual phases affect postmatch perceptual responses in professional female footballers.
• To analyze the time course of recovery following matches across the menstrual cycle.
• To determine the relationship between menstrual phase, match load, and recovery indicators.

Main Methods:

• Thirteen naturally menstruating professional footballers tracked their menstrual cycles and perceptual responses over up to four cycles.
• Menstrual phases (menstruation, follicular, luteal) were identified using calendar tracking and hormone tests.
• Perceptual data (fatigue, soreness, stress, sleep, perceived recovery status) and high-speed running distance (GPS) were collected on match days and two days postmatch.

Main Results:

• Match load significantly influenced perceived recovery status, wellness, fatigue, soreness, and stress.
• Menstrual phase had a significant main effect on perceived recovery status.
• While moderate effect sizes suggested potentially worse perceived recovery and better sleep during menstruation, no significant differences between phases were found; effect sizes were mostly trivial to small.

Conclusions:

• Perceived recovery status might be lower during menstruation, but the menstrual phase shows limited association with overall postmatch perceptual responses.
• Recovery time courses for perceptual measures vary across menstrual phases, but evidence for consistently impaired recovery in any specific phase was not found.