--- title: Does how well your body works during exercise change across your menstrual cycle? description: Yes. Your body works best during the two weeks right after your period and after ovulation, with the strongest heart and lung function in those phases. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/analysis-of-the-functional-state-of-students-in-the-process-of-healthy-training-2017/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does how well your body works during exercise change across your menstrual cycle? Study, 2017 # Does how well your body works during exercise change across your menstrual cycle? Yes. Your body works best during the two weeks right after your period and after ovulation, with the strongest heart and lung function in those phases. Moderate study design 127 female university students with regular menstrual cycles and no health problems ## What they did 127 female students with no health problems had their heart rate, blood pressure, lung capacity, and physical fitness tested across each phase of their menstrual cycle. They were given exercise programs tailored to each phase. ## What they found The best physical working capacity was in the postmenstrual phase (right after the period ends) and postovulatory phase (after ovulation). Heart and lung function were strongest in these same two phases. Body weight improved more during these phases. The study recommended different exercises for each phase: flexibility during the period, coordination and endurance after the period, speed during ovulation, special endurance after ovulation, and strength plus flexibility before the period. ## What it means for you If you exercise, you might feel stronger and work harder during the two weeks after your period and after ovulation. The main limitation is that all the students had regular periods and no health problems, so these results might not apply to women with irregular cycles or other conditions. 127 female students studied ## About the study Original title Analysis of the functional state of students in the process of healthy training exercises in different phases of the ovarian-menstrual cycle Authors Nataliia V. Petrenko, Олена Павлівна Петренко, Вікторія Борисівна Романова et al. Journal Pedagogics psychology medical-biological problems of physical training and sports Year 2017 Study design Study Participants 127 What was tested Tailored exercise programs adjusted for different menstrual cycle phases Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.15561/18189172.2017.0605](https://doi.org/10.15561/18189172.2017.0605) Original abstract Aim: to substantiate the application of a rational program of health-training sessions in the educational process of physical education of students in different phases of the ovarian-menstrual cycle. Material: in study participated students (n=127), who did not have deviations in health (the main medical group). According to the results of the tests were determined: heart rate; blood pressure; vital capacity of the lungs. To determine physical performance was used Harvard step-test. Physical exercises from the main means of health fitness were used differentially and dosed. Results: It was established that the consideration in the phases of the ovarian-menstrual cycle of indicators of the functional state, changes in well-being and working capacity give an opportunity: planning loads in the training process; adjustment of volume and intensity of loads. We recommend to schedule the load of our program as follows: in the menstrual phase - the development of flexibility (moderate load); in the postmenstrual phase - development of coordination, overall endurance; in ovulatory - speed development; in postovulatory - development of special endurance; in premenstrual - the development of strength, flexibility. In the postmenstrual and postovulatory phase, a high level of physical working capacity, functional state of the cardiopulmonary system has been registered. It also has a positive effect on body weight correction in the women students. Conclusions: When developing programs of health training sessions with women students it is necessary to take into account the phases of the ovarian-menstrual cycle. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Randomised trial, 2026 Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS? Lab study, 2026 Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD? Cohort study, 2026 Are diet and lifestyle linked to premenstrual symptoms in college students? Cohort study, 2026 Does the menstrual cycle phase affect how much physical activity women do? 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