Author(s): MORIYAMA, S.I., MARINHO, D., NEIVA, H., FERRAZ, R., ALVES, A., MATSUO, K., Institution: TOKYO GAKUGEI UNIVERSITY, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 1119

INTRODUCTION:
Studying the influence of menstrual cycle on exercise performance reveals findings pertaining to various performance aspects. However, an association between female exercise performance and menstrual cycle phase remains unestablished [1]. However, mental and physical symptoms occurring during menstruation (premenstrual syndrome [PMS]) are observed in athletes and nonathletes and affect their performance. Herein, we examined the menstrual cycle and how PMS affects fitness test results.
METHODS:
Study comprised 31 female university students with normal menstrual cycles (25–38 days): 18 were track and field athletes (active group [AG]) and 13 had no exercise habits (nonathlete group [NAG]). Analysis was performed on all participants who completed all tests; with eight participants in each group. Participants’ basal body temperature was classified into hot and cold phases, and tests were conducted during menstrual, follicular, and luteal phases. Participants answered a questionnaire regarding physical and mental symptoms associated with menstruation and undertook a MEXT created physical fitness test. The mental symptoms were assessed on a scale of 0 (none) to 3 (severe); Friedman test was used for within-group analysis. A physical fitness test comprising handgrip strength, sit-ups, sit-and-reach, side-step, 1000-m endurance run, 50-m sprint, standing long jump, and handball throw was conducted. Two-way ANOVA analyzed the results for the group and phase of the menstrual cycle.
RESULTS:
Significantly different scores for physical symptoms were recorded during menstrual phase than in other phases: 4 out of 18 scores were higher in AG, and 2 out of 18 items were different in NAG. No significant differences for mental symptoms were found in AG for any items measured, but significant differences were confirmed in NAG for 3 of the 12 items. No significant interactions between groups were observed in any physical fitness tests. In all tests except handgrip strength, significantly higher performance was observed in the AG group compared with NAG group, with no significant differences based on menstrual cycle observed between the two groups.
CONCLUSION:
Large interindividual differences in the effects of PMS are reported and concerns have been raised regarding the impact of PMS on QOL and exercise performance [2]. Highest median PMS score confirmed was 1.00, representing “some symptoms but no effect on daily life,” indicating that both groups experienced mild mental symptoms. Based on the aforementioned, we concluded that physical fitness test performance does not change in athletes and nonathletes with small or negligible effect of PMS associated with the menstrual cycle.
REFERENCES:
1. McNulty KL, et al. The effects of menstrual cycle phase on exercise performance in eumenorrheic women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2020. Sports Med. 50(10):1813-1827.
2. Yesildere SH, et al. Effect of exercise on premenstrual symptoms: A systematic review. Complement Ther Med. 2020. 48:102272