Exercise and menstrual function: A review study

Sikiru Lamina, Charles Ikechukwu Ezema, Uche A. Ezugwu, Augustine A. Amaeze, Maduabuchukwu Joseph Nwankwo, Amaeze Florence Ngozi

Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria;.
Nursing Department, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Nigeria.
Physiotherapy Department, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/health.2013.512272                

Abstract

At present there is no conclusive evidence that participation in exercise affects menstruation and is equivocal and unclear whether menstrualtion affects athletic performance. An attempt has therefore been made in this paper to discuss the effects of menstruation on exercise performance and vice versa. The paper reviewed that women experiencing pre-menstrual syndrome will not likely perform well and that menstrual irregularity is much higher in athletes than sedentary women. The paper also reviewed that athletes reach menarche later than sedentary sisters. The review concluded that competing women experiencing premenstrual syndrome might get control over their menstruation through medically recommended low dose oral contraceptive. The paper recommended that athletes experiencing menstrual irregularities and disturbances should seek medical consultation and management before further training.

Keywords

Exercise; Menstruation; Female; Athletes

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Barretti, K.E., Barman, S.E., Boitano, S. and Brooks, H. (2009) Ganong’s review of medical physiology. 24th Edition, Lange Medical Book, Connecticut.
[2]	Horton, T.J., Miller, E.K., Glueck, D. and Tench, K. (2002) No effect of menstrual cycle phase on glucose kinetics and fuel oxidation during moderate-intensity exercise. American Journal of Physiology—Endocrinology and Metabolism, 282, E752-E762.
[3]	Wilmore, J.H. and Costill, D.L. (1994) Physiology of sport and exercise. Human Kinetics, Champaign.
[4]	DeCree, C. (1998) Sex steroid metabolism and menstrual irregularities in the exercising female. A review. Sports Me, 25, 369-406. http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199825060-00003
[5]	Otis, C.L., Drinkwater, B., Johnson, M., Loucks, A. and Wilmore, J. (1997) American College of Sports Medicine position stand. The female athlete triad. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 29, i-ix. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00005768-199705000-00037
[6]	Brooks, C.A., Fahey, T.D., White, T.P. and Baldwin, K.M. (2005) Exercise physiology: Human bioenergetics and its application. 4th Edition, Mayfield Publishing Company, Mountain View.
[7]	Carlberg, K., Peake, G.T. and Buckman, M.T. (1988) Exercise and the menstrual cycle. In: Appenzeller, O. (Ed.), Sports Medicine, Urban & Schwarzenberg, Baltmore, 161-180.
[8]	Lebrun, C.M. (1994) The effect of the phase of the menstrual cycle and the birth control pill on athletic performance. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 13, 419-441.
[9]	Bailey, S.P., Zacher, C.M. and Mittleman, K.D. (2000) Effect of menstrual cycle phase on carbohydrate supplementation during prolonged exercise to fatigue. Journal of Applied Physiology, 88, 690-697.
[10]	Beidleman, B.A., Rock, P.B., Muza, S.R., Fulco, C.S., Forte Jr., V.A. and Cymerman, A. (1999) Exercise E and physical performance at altitude are not affected by Menstrual cycle phase. Journal of Applied Physiology, 86, 1519-1526.
[11]	McCracken, M., Ainsworth, B. and Hackney, A.C. (1994) Effects of the menstrual cycle phase on the blood lactate responses to exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 69, 174-175. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00609412
[12]	DeSouza, M.J. (2003) Menstrual disturbances in athletes: A focus on luteal phase defects. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 35, 1553-1563. http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000084530.31478.DF
[13]	Brutsaert, T.D., Spielvogel, H., Caceres, E.D., Araoz, M., Robert, T., Chatterton, R.T. and Vitzthum, V.J. (2002) Effect of menstrual cycle phase on exercise performance of high-altitude native women at 3600 m. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 205, 233-239.
[14]	Redman, L.M. and Weatherby, R.P. (2004) Measuring performance during the menstrual cycle: A model using oral contraceptives. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 36, 130-136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000106181.52102.99
[15]	Moore, L.G. (1997) Women at altitude: Overview. In: Houston, C.S. and Coates, G. (Eds.), Hypoxia, Queen City Printer, Burlington, 1-7.
[16]	Edwards, N., Wilcox, I., Polo, O.J. and Sullivan, C.E. (1996) Hypercapnic blood pressure response is greater during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Journal of Applied Physiology, 81, 2142-2146.
[17]	Regensteiner, J.G., McCullough, R.G., McCullough, R.E., Pickett, C.K. and Moore, L.G. (1990) Combined effects of female hormones and exercise on hypoxic ventilatory response. Respiratory Physiology, 82, 107-114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0034-5687(90)90027-V
[18]	Birch, K. (2005) Female athlete triad. ABC of sports and exercise medicine. British Medical Journal, 330, 244-246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.330.7485.244
[19]	Thompson, S.H. (2007) Characteristics of the female athlete triad in collegiate cross-country runners. Journal of American College Health, 56, 129-136. http://dx.doi.org/10.3200/JACH.56.2.129-136
[20]	Locks, A.B. (1990) Effects of exercise training on the menstrual cycle. Exercise & mechanisms. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 22, 275-280.
[21]	Devris, H.A. and Housh, T.J. (1994) Physiology of exercise for physical education, athletic and exercise science. 5th Edition, NCB Brown and Benchmark Publishers, Madison.
[22]	(2007) Exercise and menstrual function. British Medical Journal, 334, 164. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39043.625498.80
[23]	Giannini, A.J., Melemis, S.M., Martin, D.M. and Folts, D.J. (1994) Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome as a function of beta endorphin; two sub types. Prog. Neutropsych ophamacol. Psychiatry, 18, 321-327.
[24]	Snow-Heart, C. and Marav, R. (1991) Exercise bone mineral density and osteoporosis. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 19, 361-388.
[25]	Iversson, T., Spetz, A.C. and Hammer, M. (1998) Physical exercise and vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women. Mauritas, 29, 139-146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-5122(98)00004-8
[26]	Slemenda, C.W. and Johnson, C.C. (1993) High intensity activities in young women: Site specific bone mass effects among female figure skaters. Bone and Mineral, 20, 125-132. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0169-6009(08)80021-9
[27]	Thompson, S.H. (2007) Characteristics of the female athlete triad in collegiate cross-country runners. Journal of American College Health, 56, 129-136. http://dx.doi.org/10.3200/JACH.56.2.129-136
[28]	Dueck, C.A., Matt, K.S., Manore, M.M. and Skinner, J.S. (1996) Treatment of athletic amenorrhea with a diet and training intervention programme. International Journal of Sport Nutrition, 6, 24-40.
[29]	Hergenroeder, A.C. (1995) Bone mineralization, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and sex steroid therapy in female adolescents and young adults. Journal of Pediatrics, 126, 683-692. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(95)70393-4
[30]	Welt, C.K., Chan, J.L., Bullen, J., Murphy, R., Smith, P. and DePaoli, A.M. (2004) Recombinant human leptin in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea. New England Journal of Medicine, 351, 987-997. http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa040388