Effects of menstrual cycle on vagal reactivation in post-exercise recovery among young black African women

Abstract

Summary Objective To investigate, in young black African women, the influence of estradiol and progesterone on vagal reactivation in post-exercise recovery. Equipment and methods Fourteen young black African women, volunteers (24 ± 1.7 years), with a regular menstrual cycle (28 ± 1 days) were explored during the three phases of menstrual cycle (menstrual 2.9 ± 0.6 days, follicular 13 ± 1.5 days and luteal 23.1 ± 1.4 days). At each phase, a venous sample was taken to determine estradiol and progesterone levels and then an exercise test was made with an active recovery for three minutes and then passive for 3 minutes. Exercise and recovery of our protocol are used in our practice to assess the physical fitness. Results Estradiol is significantly higher during the follicular phase and progesterone is significantly greater in the luteal phase. During the six minutes of recovery, heart rate (HR), heart rate recovery in absolute value (HRR) and as a percentage of peak heart rate at exercise (HRR%), differences between heart rate at the end of active recovery (3 rd minute) and at each minute of passive recovery in absolute value (ΔHR) and as a percentage of heart rate of the third minute (ΔHR%) were not different between the 3 phases of the menstrual cycle. There was no correlation between HRR%, ΔHR% and ovarian hormones.