Fundamentals of the Menstrual Cycle Does the Menstrual Cycle Cause Changes in Athletic Condition?

You notice that you’re more easily irritated than normal, and then a few days later your period starts... This experience is likely familiar to many of us. The menstrual cycle causes both mental and physical changes in women. This article will introduce the changes in condition experienced by female athletes.

Nine in Ten Athletes Are Aware of Changes in Their Condition

“Do you feel that your menstrual cycle changes your condition?”
This question was put to 630 top athletes, including Olympians, by the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences (JISS).

A total of 91% of respondents answered, “I experience changes.” When this survey was given to female college athletes, approximately 80% said the same.

These results demonstrate that, regardless of their competitive level, most women who participate in sports personally experience changes in their condition due to their menstrual cycle.

The most common times for respondents to report experiencing negative symptoms were during and before menstruation. The negative symptoms experienced during menstruation include lower abdominal pain, nausea, and headaches. Before menstruation (in the luteal phase), increased appetite, irritation, and weight gain are among the symptoms reported.

Mental and Physical Changes Associated with Menstruation

When asked, conversely, when they were in good condition, more than 50% of respondents answered that this was over a period of several days after menstruation (in the follicular phase).
However, more than 30% of respondents answered that their condition was unconnected to their menstrual cycle.
This may be due to individual variation when it comes to the subjective impact of the menstrual cycle on condition.

Source: Sunaga, 2017