Use of the Menstrual Cycle to Enhance Female Sports Performance and Decrease Sports-Related Injury

J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2020 Apr;33(2):110-111. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2019.10.002. Epub 2019 Oct 31.

Abstract

The impact of the menstrual cycle on female sports performance is a growing interest area in sports and athletics. In March 2017, the British Journal of Sports Medicine, published the article, "Sport, Exercise and the Menstrual Cycle: Where is the Research?", highlighting the significant under-representation of women included in sport and exercise medicine research studies. Dr. Georgie Bruinvels, a research scientist, is focused primarily on menstruation in female athletes and use of the menstrual cycle to optimize training and performance, while decreasing injury. Bruinvels, states, "There is a body of research emerging that highlights that strength training is more advantageous in the first half of the menstrual cycle because the body adapts and recovers better. Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology has a place in this emerging interest area, given our level of expertise in menstruation, female physiology and the often-avoided female pubertal physiology.

Keywords: Adolescent; Anterior cruciate ligament injuries; Athletes; Athletic performance; Exercise; Follicular phase; Luteal phase; Menstrual cycle; Menstruation; Weight loss.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Athletes
  • Athletic Performance*
  • Child
  • Exercise
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Menstrual Cycle*