Can period-related symptoms predict menstrual manipulation among Australian female cyclists?

Serene J L Lee; Jeremiah J Peiffer; Eric Haakonssen; Fleur E C A Van Rens

doi:10.1080/02640414.2024.2334485

Back

Can period-related symptoms predict menstrual manipulation among Australian female cyclists?

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Can period-related symptoms predict menstrual manipulation among Australian female cyclists?

Serene J L Lee, Jeremiah J Peiffer, Eric Haakonssen and Fleur E C A Van Rens

Journal of sports sciences

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2024.2334485

PMID: 38590213

Appears in Open Access via Read & Publish Agreements

Files and links (1)

pdf

Published 795.15 kBDownload View

Published (Version of Record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access

Abstract

Women

training

sports

contraception

menstruation

This study explored the extent of menstrual manipulation and its associated impact on period-related symptoms and training disruptions in Australian Female Cyclists. 205 female cyclists, from recreational to elite level, participated in an online “Female Cyclist Questionnaire (FCQ)”. The FCQ utilised a series of validated questionnaires to obtain demographic information and menstrual function of the respondents, and to investigate their menstrual manipulation habits and perceptions on how their period-related symptoms affected their well-being, mood, energy and training tolerance. More than 80% of the cyclists reported that their period-related symptoms impacted upon training and 41% made training adjustments based on these symptoms. Two-thirds of respondents thought their training should be phase-controlled yet only half discussed their hormonal cycles with their coaches. Menstrual manipulation was predicted by reduced “workout tolerance” in these cyclists (odds ratio = 0.632). Half of the respondents reported compromised ability to tolerate high-intensity interval training with period-related symptoms. Period pain, increased irritability, lower energy levels and more sugar cravings were commonly reported but did not predict menstrual manipulation. The data indicated that period-related symptoms are present in Australian female cyclists across all levels of participation. However, the perceived impact to training and subsequent behavioural changes varied among individuals.

Details

Title: Can period-related symptoms predict menstrual manipulation among Australian female cyclists?
Authors/Creators: Serene J L Lee - Murdoch University
Jeremiah J Peiffer - Murdoch University
Eric Haakonssen - Australian Cycling Team, Cycling Australia, Adelaide, Australia
Fleur E C A Van Rens - Discipline of Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
Publication Details: Journal of sports sciences
Publisher: Routledge as part of the Taylor and Francis Group
Identifiers: 991005654744307891
Murdoch Affiliation: Research and Innovation Office; Centre for Healthy Ageing
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Metrics

13 File views/ downloads

56 Record Views

1 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.172 Sports Science; 1.172.648 Exercise Physiology
Web Of Science research areas: Sport Sciences
ESI research areas: Clinical Medicine