Influence of the menstrual cycle on physical and cognitive performance in eumenorrheic women.

Abstract

Introduction: The female sexual hormones typical of the menstrual cycle not only have reproductive functions, they also influence other physiological systems and can affect sports and cognitive performance. The purpose of this study has been to evaluate different aspects such as body composition, endurance, muscle strength and some cognitive abilities at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Material and method: Eight young eumenorrheic women (age = 23.1 ± 4.4 years) with regular menstrual cycles participated in the study. A densitometry and bioimpedance test were performed to study body composition, a short-term visual memory test and a reaction time test to assess cognitive abilities, and muscle characteristics (thickness and stiffness of the anterior rectus and muscle strength) along with a progressive test to exhaustion were analyzed to assess performance during the mid-follicular (FF) and mid-luteal (FL) phases of the participants’ menstrual cycle. Results: During the follicular phase, the participants registered a greater total time (FF = 488.5 ± 93.18 s vs. FL = 468.6 ± 81.29 s; P = 0.015) and a lower initial heart rate (FF = 83.3 ± 10.23 PPM vs. FL = 92.9 ± 7.67 PPM; P = 0.034) in the progressive test to exhaustion. Regarding cognitive abilities, in the follicular phase, better results were obtained in reaction time both with the right hand (FF = 0.426 ± 0.082 s vs. FL = 0.453 ± 0.087 s; P = 0.036) and with the left hand (FF = 0.435 ± 0.096 s vs. FL = 0.466 ± 0.077 s; P = 0.034). On the other hand, a higher percentage of fat (FF = 27.3 ± 5.1% vs. FL = 27.9 ± 5.0%; P = 0.041) was found in the luteal phase. Conclusion: Performance in endurance and in cognitive test, such as reaction time was better in the Follicular Phase, while a higher percentage of fat was observed in the Luteal Phase. However, memory, strength and muscular characteristics were not affected by the hormonal fluctuations of the menstrual cycle.