Impact of hormonal contraceptives on exercise physiology and athletic performance across the contraceptive cycle. A pilot study

Abstract

Background: Historically, research in exercise physiology has tended to overlook women, focusing mostly on studies involving men and disregarding female hormonal variations, including the effects of commonly used hormonal contraceptives among athletes. The influence of exogenous hormones could affect health and athletic performance, besides providing a stable hormonal environment to assess the acute effects of sexual hormones on physiological variables and performance. These potential impacts are critical to guide training strategies for female athletes.Hypothesis: Hormonal contraceptives affect physiological responses and athletic performance in healthy young women and elite athletes. It is hypothesized that during the inactive phase, aerobic and anaerobic exercise, as well as strength, would be superior compared to the active phase. Materials and Methods: Longitudinal observational study with repeated measures exploring physiological responses in five elite athletes, all using hormonal contraceptives. Variables including lactate, heart rate, and power output were evaluated during a submaximal 2000-meter rowing ergometer test, assessed during two phases of the contraceptive cycle. Results: Baseline characteristics were described. No significant differences were observed in physiological variables between the two phases of the hormonal contraceptive cycle. Conclusions: There were no significant differences in performance between active and inactive phases of hormonal contraceptives. Variations in physiological parameters among studies suggest the need for an individualized approach. Future studies should use larger samples and rigorous methodologies to clarify effects of the contraceptive use on athletes.