Tracking androgens in female elite athletes: menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive effects

Understanding variations in the androgen profile is crucial for interpreting hormone data and developing cycle-based training strategies tailored to individual athlete needs. Therefore, this study investigates the androgen concentrations of elite female track and field athletes across various hormonal conditions, including natural eumenorrheic cycles, cycles under hormonal contraception, and cycles with menstrual disturbances.

Using a prospective, longitudinal observational cohort design, 22 athletes (15 naturally cycling, 7 using hormonal contraception) were monitored for up to three consecutive cycles. The study utilised daily or near-daily urine sampling to analyse urinary steroid hormones (including testosterone and its metabolites) via gas chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS).

Results demonstrated that in athletes with ovulatory menstrual cycles, urinary androgen concentrations, particularly testosterone, varied significantly by phase, peaking around the late follicular phase (lateFP: 7.35 ± 6.25 ng/mL). In contrast, athletes using combined oral contraceptives exhibited significantly suppressed androgen concentrations throughout the cycle compared to the natural cycle group, with mean urinary testosterone levels being notably lower (2.55 ± 2.91 ng/mL vs. 5.45 ± 4.31 ng/mL; p<0.001). These pill users also showed elevated concentrations of the inactive 5β-reductase metabolites (5β-androstanedione and 5β-androstanediol). Cycles with menstrual disturbances, such as luteal phase deficiency, also displayed altered and often lower concentrations of all urinary androgens.

These findings highlight the significant influence of both endogenous menstrual cycle dynamics and exogenous hormone interventions on androgen availability, underscoring the necessity of considering the individual hormone status for performance optimization and athlete health management.