Study, 2026
Does menstrual cycle phase affect how stressed women feel during exercise or their athletic performance?
Menstrual cycle phase affects emotional state and how hard exercise feels, but does not affect measures of physical strength or athletic ability. This is a moderate-sized study.
What they did
Twenty-two naturally menstruating women and six women using oral contraceptives completed standardized tests at different menstrual cycle phases. Tests measured stress and recovery feelings, heart rate at rest and during submaximal cycling, blood lactate, perceived exertion, handgrip strength, and jump ability.
What they found
Emotional balance was lower and emotional imbalance was higher in the early follicular phase compared to the ovulatory phase. Perceived exertion during submaximal cycling was higher in the early follicular phase (11.9 versus 11.3 at the first stage). No significant differences were found in motor performance measures like handgrip strength or jumps. Women using oral contraceptives showed worse stress and recovery measures in the early inactive pill phase compared to other pill phases.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle affects how stressed and tired women feel and how hard exercise seems to feel, but not how strong they are or how well they can jump. Women may feel less emotionally balanced in the early follicular phase. The main limit is that this only looked at women in controlled lab settings.
28
women total
3.23 vs 4.08
emotional balance score (lower in early follicular)
11.9 vs 11.3
perceived exertion early follicular vs ovulatory
About the study
- Original title
- Psychological But Not Motor Performance and Physiological Metrics Are Influenced in Menstrual Cycle Monitoring during Rest and Submaximal Cycling
- Authors
- Schaffarczyk M, Hipp T, Fuchs K et al.
- Journal
- Medicine and science in sports and exercise
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Standardized testing battery including stress scales, heart rate monitoring, and athletic performance tests
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000003861
Topics
Related studies
Cohort study, 2026
Does a birth control pill with estetrol and drospirenone help PMS?
Survey study, 2021
Do female military officers want to suppress their periods during training?
Study, 2026
How do brain chemicals relate to PMDD and what treatments can help?
Randomised trial, 2023
Does matching your running training to your menstrual cycle phase improve performance, recovery and wellbeing?
Randomised trial, 2026
Does mindfulness training reduce PMS symptoms and fear about childbirth?
Randomised trial, 2025
Does mood, well-being, and sexual function change across the menstrual cycle?