---
title: Does muscle strength change during the menstrual cycle in female athletes?
description: Yes, in this very small study. Muscle strength declined during the premenstrual week in 10 young athletes, though mood didn't change.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/dehydroepiandrosterone-and-muscle-strength-during-a-menstrual-cycle-in-female-2015/
---

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- Does muscle strength change during the menstrual cycle in female athletes?

Cohort study, 2015

# Does muscle strength change during the menstrual cycle in female athletes?

Yes, in this very small study. Muscle strength declined during the premenstrual week in 10 young athletes, though mood didn't change.

 Early or limited evidence

10 female athletes, age 21

## What they did

Tracked 10 female athletes age 21 through their menstrual cycle in 4 phases (menses, ovulation, luteal 1, luteal 2), measuring muscle strength and hormone levels every 7 days.

## What they found

During the premenstrual phase (luteal 2), muscle strength and DHEA-S hormone declined while estradiol and progesterone increased. Mood disturbance was unchanged. Heart rate variability and body temperature were higher during the premenstrual phase.

## What it means for you

Physical performance may be weaker during the premenstrual week in young female athletes. This is a very small study, so we don't know how general these findings are to all athletes.

10

female athletes studied

21

age in years

4

menstrual cycle phases tracked

## About the study

Original title Dehydroepiandrosterone and Muscle Strength during a Menstrual Cycle in Female Athletes Authors Chun-Fa Huang Journal Sports & Exercise Research Year 2015 Study design Cohort study What was tested None (menstrual cycle tracking) Read the paper [doi.org/10.5297/ser.1703.007](https://doi.org/10.5297/ser.1703.007)

## Topics

[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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