Is menstrual cycle misunderstanding a bias for ergogenic aids use? A cross sectional study

Abstract

The complex process of hormonal release and interaction of the Menstrual Cycle (MC) seems to impact the athlete's physical and psychological state. Objective: 1) investigate female athletes' understanding of MC, including its various phases and their potential effects on sports performance, 2) analyze the athletes' self-perception of sports performance during the different phases of MC and 3) identify possible ergogenic strategies (nutritional, mechanical, pharmacological, and/or psychological) adopted by athletes for alleviating premenstrual and menstrual symptoms in order to improve sports performance. Design: This exploratory cross-sectional study involved 105 competitive athletes, from 12 different sport modalities, from regional to international competitive level. Setting: Participants completed a survey assessing contraceptive use, knowledge regarding MC phases and perceptions of sports performance at different phases of MC as well as the adopted strategies to alleviate pre and menstrual symptoms to enhance sport performance. Results: Although 65.8% of the athletes reported knowing the MC phases, only 53.5% were able to identify them. Also, 60% of the athletes feel unmotivated or unwilling to exercise and 72.4% feel tired, indisposed, or self-reported worse sports performance during a certain phase of the MC, being follicular phase the most cited. Conclusions: The use of hormonal contraceptive methods, fatigue/discomfort and the number of weekly workouts seem to influence the use of nutritional aids. Competitive athletes have a limited understanding of MC, even considering that it has a detrimental effect on sports performance, especially during follicular phase. Feelings of tiredness, indisposition, or worse sports performance are the most common reasons for nutritional aids use.