Abstract
The effect of the menstrual cycle on athlete performance, wellbeing and perceived exertion and fatigue is not well understood. Furthermore, it has not been investigated specifically in Australian Football athletes. This pilot study aimed to explore how naturally menstruating Australian Football athletes may be affected by menstrual cycle phase. The data collected from the routine monitoring of five naturally menstruating athletes (average menstrual cycle length of 28 ± 3 [SD] days) in one team (athlete age range 18–35 years) competing in the Women’s Australian Football League during the 2019 season were retrospectively analysed to compare performance (countermovement jump parameters and adductor squeeze pressure), perceived exertion, perceived fatigue and wellbeing (perceived sleep quality, stress and soreness) outcomes between the follicular and luteal phases. Performance, perceived exertion, stress and soreness did not appear to be affected by menstrual cycle phase (p > 0.17). However, perceived fatigue appeared to be significantly greater (p = 0.042) and sleep quality worse (p = 0.005) in the luteal phase. This pilot study suggests further research focusing on the effect of menstrual cycle phase on subjective fatigue and wellbeing is warranted.
Highlights
The introduction of the Women’s Australian Football League (AFLW) is one recent contributor to the professionalisation of domestic team sports for female athletes in Australia
Since its inaugural season in 2017, there has been a surge in female participation in Australian Football (AF) across all competition levels [1] and the AFLW has expanded to include more teams competing over a longer season, with all matches in the 2021 season being ticketed for the first time [2]
During menstrual bleeding and the follicular phase, female athletes spend more time in bed and more time in slow wave sleep compared to the luteal phase [27], which is in agreement with the preliminary findings in AFLW athletes in the current study
Summary
The introduction of the Women’s Australian Football League (AFLW) is one recent contributor to the professionalisation of domestic team sports for female athletes in Australia. Since its inaugural season in 2017, there has been a surge in female participation in Australian Football (AF) across all competition levels [1] and the AFLW has expanded to include more teams competing over a longer season, with all matches in the 2021 season being ticketed for the first time [2]. During the four 15 min quarters (plus stoppage time) of an AFLW match, each athlete typically spends 54 min on the field and can cover a total distance of between 5 and 7 km, of which 96 to 209 m is covered running at very high speeds (>20 kph) [4].
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