Document Type
Honors Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Award
Spring 4-16-2025
Abstract
Previous research studying the effects of the menstrual cycle on athletic performance has focused on women who do not participate in any athletic activity or participate at a recreational or professional level (Dupuit et al., 2023; Ekenros et al., 2022). Few studies have tested collegiate athletes and those which have examined theoretical effects or psychological impacts rather than direct performance outcomes (Carmichael et al., 2021). It is widely agreed upon that reproductive hormones have broad influences throughout the body including body composition, response to stress, appetite, energy expenditure, and blood-glucose regulation. These factors directly contribute to physiological abilities such as aerobic and anaerobic capacities, the ability to energize muscle cells, and muscle activation, all of which contribute to athletic performance, yet few studies have attempted to correlate them with specific phases of the menstrual cycle (Collado-Boira et al., 2021). This study aimed to answer how athletic performance is affected by the menstrual cycle and how the different menstrual phases influence performance outcomes. In order to evidence this correlation a series of 4 tests were repeated during each phase of the menstrual cycle and compared. It was found that athletic performance outcomes do vary in relation to menstrual cycle progression with rapid force generation, aerobic capacity, and anaerobic capacity all having optimal performance during the ovulatory phase, while muscular strength peaks during the luteal. However, due to the small sample size and limited examination window it is difficult to evidentially conclude that hormonal changes were the cause of differential performance. Therefore, additional research should expand upon this study in both size and scope.
Advisor
Sandy Kimbrough
Recommended Citation
Allgood, Millie, "The Effect of Female Athlete Menstrual Cycles on Their Athletic Performance" (2025). Honors Theses. 273.
https://digitalcommons.tamuc.edu/honorstheses/273
