Actively Recruiting
Moderate Aerobic Exercise for Managing Menstrual Cycle Symptoms
Led by University of Colorado, Colorado Springs · Updated on 2025-07-24
35
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
56 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the impact of moderate aerobic exercise on menstrual symptom management in sedentary women both using and not using hormonal contraceptives. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is there a reduction in physical and/or psychological menstrual cycle related symptom burden with participation in moderate aerobic exercise for sedentary women using and not using hormonal contraceptives? Is there a difference in physical and/or psychological menstrual cycle related symptom burden between hormonal contraceptive and non-hormonal contraceptive users? Is a moderate aerobic exercise intervention more effective in reducing physical and/or psychological menstrual related symptom burden for sedentary women using or not using hormonal contraceptives? Participants will: * Have their body composition assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry pre and post exercise intervention. * Complete a Menstrual Symptom Index (MSi) to report daily menstrual cycle related symptom burden in addition to the Premenstrual Symptom Screening Tool (PSST) and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (HMB) questionnaire monthly. * Utilize an at-home monitor to test urinary luteinizing hormone, estrone-3-glucuronide, and pregnanediol glucuronide approximately 10 times per month and report menstrual cycle length. * Record physical activity habits by continuously wearing a wrist-based accelerometer and chest-strap heart rate monitor during planned aerobic exercise sessions and complete the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) monthly. * Maintain their usual sedentary activity habits for one menstrual cycle followed by completion of an exercise intervention designed to progress individuals to meet minimum recommended aerobic physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes per week set by the American College of Sports Medicine for two menstrual cycles.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Moderate Aerobic Exercise for Managing Menstrual Cycle Symptoms
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Premenopausal women with regular menstrual periods every 21 to 35 days
- Using either no contraceptives or non-hormonal contraceptives for the past 6 months, or using combined oral contraceptives for at least the past 6 months
- Not currently pregnant or trying to become pregnant
- Sedentary lifestyle with a low or inactive physical activity score
- Self-reported menstrual cycle symptoms on the PSST or Menstrual Symptom Index
- No medical diagnosis or signs of diabetes, cardiovascular, or renal disease and able to do moderate intensity physical activity without doctor's clearance
You will not qualify if you...
- Becoming physically active with higher than low activity on the IPAQ during the first study month
- Not following exercise intensity instructions or missing more than 25% of exercise sessions in intervention months
- Becoming pregnant during the study
- Being diagnosed with cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal disease needing doctor clearance for moderate exercise
- Starting hormonal or non-hormonal contraceptives if assigned to the non-hormonal group
- Changing contraceptive type or stopping combined hormonal contraceptives if assigned to the hormonal group
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, 80918
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Marissa Baranauskas, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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