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Updated: Jun 30, 2026
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Published on: August 8, 2019
Relationship Between Menstrual Phase-Induced Sleep Variations and Performance in Elite Female Rowers
Prashu Ethirajan1, Sai Vineet Damodar Premkumar1, Sai Aditya Raman1
1Department of Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, IND.
Cureus
|June 29, 2026
Summary
Elite female rowers experience significant performance decrements during low-hormone menstrual phases due to reduced sleep efficiency. Integrating menstrual cycle tracking with sleep monitoring can optimize training and recovery strategies for these athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle impact female athletes' recovery and sleep.
- Low-hormone phases are linked to sleep disturbances and impaired recovery, potentially affecting performance.
- Current athlete monitoring often overlooks the combined effects of menstrual cycle and sleep on performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate menstrual phase-specific variations in sleep efficiency and rowing performance.
- To assess the relationship between sleep efficiency and performance in elite female rowers.
- To provide data supporting integrated monitoring of menstrual cycle and sleep for performance optimization.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study of 15 elite female rowers over nine cycles.
- Categorization of menstrual phases: high-estrogen, high-progesterone, and low-hormone.
- Sleep efficiency measured via wearable devices; performance assessed by 500-m ergometer time trial.
Main Results:
- Sleep efficiency was highest in the high-estrogen phase (96.90%), followed by high-progesterone (94.20%), and lowest in the low-hormone phase (88.70%).
- Rowing performance was best in the high-estrogen phase (111.20 s) and significantly reduced in the low-hormone phase (119.80 s).
- A strong negative correlation (r = -0.86) was found between sleep efficiency and performance time.
Conclusions:
- Menstrual cycle phases significantly affect sleep efficiency and rowing performance in elite female athletes.
- Low-hormone phases are associated with the poorest sleep-performance outcomes.
- Integrating menstrual cycle tracking and sleep monitoring is crucial for personalized training and recovery strategies.
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01:19Secretory Phase
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