Actively Recruiting

Age: 18Years - 30Years
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
ID07591818

Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraceptive Use in Athletic Performance and Health-related Hydration and Energy Balance Status

Led by Faculdade de Motricidade Humana · Updated on 2026-05-18

40

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

26 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how natural menstrual cycles and oral contraceptive use affect strength, hydration, energy balance, and body composition in female athletes. This observational study focuses on hormonal changes during specific menstrual phases and oral contraceptive cycles to better understand their impact on athletic performance and health. The study addresses gaps in knowledge about how estrogen and progesterone influence muscle strength, hydration status, and energy availability in female athletes. The study involves 40 female athletes divided into two groups: 24 naturally menstruating athletes and 16 oral contraceptive users. Naturally menstruating participants will be assessed during early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal menstrual phases, while oral contraceptive users will be evaluated during active pill and withdrawal phases. Testing includes strength measurements using handgrip dynamometry, bench press, and leg press, along with hormonal blood tests, body water and hydration assessments, energy expenditure and balance measurements, and body composition analysis. Participants will attend sessions during each menstrual or contraceptive phase for detailed assessments of strength and hydration. Researchers will monitor hormone levels, body water compartments, hydration markers, energy intake and expenditure, and resting metabolism. The study aims to validate measurement methods and explore relationships between hormone fluctuations and energy availability. Total participation spans multiple menstrual or contraceptive phases, with data collected longitudinally to capture variations over time.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Effects of the Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraceptive Use on Health and Performance in Athletes

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years - 30Years
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Cisgender female individuals (biologically female, not undergoing gender-transition therapy)
  • Age between 18 and 30 years
  • Classified as at least Tier 2 athletes
  • Minimum of 1 year of federated sports participation
  • Menarche occurred at least 3 years prior to enrollment
  • Menstrual cycle length between 21 and 35 days with at least nine consecutive cycles in the previous year (natural menstrual cycle group only)
  • Confirmed ovulatory cycle with luteinizing hormone surge and progesterone >16 nmol/L (natural menstrual cycle group only)
  • Use of combined monophasic oral contraceptives with a 21-day regimen (oral contraceptive group only)
  • Use of the same oral contraceptive for at least 3 months prior to enrollment (oral contraceptive group only)
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Pregnancy or childbirth within the previous 12 months
  • Active smoking
  • Diagnosis of metabolic, cardiovascular, or respiratory disease
  • Use of continuous or extended-cycle oral contraceptives

AI-Screening

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Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person)

Monitoring

Duration - Approximately 4 weeks

Participants are observed and assessed across three menstrual or contraceptive cycle phases without receiving any intervention. Assessments include strength testing, hormone measurements, hydration status, energy balance, and body composition.

3 visits for naturally menstruating athletes during early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal phases; 3 visits for oral contraceptive users during week 1, weeks 2-3, and withdrawal week

Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

Faculdade de Motricidade Humana

Cruz Quebrada, Oeiras, Portugal, 1495-751

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

F

Flávio Jerónimo

How is the study designed?

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Masking

N/A

Allocation

N/A

Model

N/A

Primary Purpose

N/A

Number of Arms

2

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Published Research Related To This Trial

Muscle Performance during the Menstrual Cycle Correlates with Psychological Well-Being, but Not Fluctuations in Sex Hormones.

Tine Vrist Dam, Line Barner Dalgaard, Vassilis Sevdalis...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36106832

Body composition estimation from mobile phone three-dimensional imaging: evaluation of the USA army one-site method.

Christine M Florez, Christian Rodriguez, Madelin R Siedler...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39411840

Multicomponent methods: evaluation of new and traditional soft tissue mineral models by in vivo neutron activation analysis.

ZiMian Wang, F Xavier Pi-Sunyer, Donald P Kotler...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12399267

Estimation of total body water and extracellular water with bioimpedance in athletes: A need for athlete-specific prediction models.

Catarina N Matias, Diana A Santos, Pedro B Júdice...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25886709