Randomised trial, 2024
Does tailoring exercise to your menstrual cycle phases improve athletic performance?
No. Adapting exercise intensity to menstrual cycle phases did not improve fitness or reduce symptoms compared to regular training in this small study.
What they did
14 moderately trained women (average age 24) were randomly assigned to either standard training or training tailored to their menstrual cycle. Both groups followed a polarized training program for 8 weeks. The tailored group did higher-intensity work during the follicular phase. Researchers measured oxygen uptake, heart rate, blood pressure, and premenstrual symptoms before and after.
What they found
No significant differences between groups in any measure. Oxygen uptake, heart rate thresholds, blood pressure, heart rate variability, and premenstrual symptoms were similar in both groups.
What it means for you
Planning exercise specifically for menstrual cycle phases may not give extra benefit, but the study is too small to be sure. The authors note that the standard training group may have coincidentally matched the menstrual cycle anyway.
14
women in the study
8 weeks
training duration
0
significant differences between groups
About the study
- Original title
- Effects of a training intervention tailored to the menstrual cycle on endurance performance and hemodynamics
- Authors
- Kubica C, Ketelhut S, Querciagrossa D et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness
- Year
- 2024
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Training adapted to menstrual cycle phases (higher intensity during follicular phase) versus standard training
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.23736/s0022-4707.23.15277-7