Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 51, Issue 6 1493-1499, Copyright © 1981 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Effects of menstrual cycle on blood lactate, O2 delivery, and performance during exercise

J. E. Jurkowski, N. L. Jones, C. J. Toews and J. R. Sutton

The effects of the menstrual cycle on cardiorespiratory variables, blood lactate, and performance were studied in exercising females. Nine healthy subjects, 20--24 yr of age, were investigated in midfollicular and midluteal phases of the menstrual cycle at 33, 66, and 90% of maximum power output (light, heavy, and exhaustive exercise). Occurrence of ovulation was confirmed in all subjects by measurement of progesterone, which increased from 0.6 +/- 0.1 (mean +/- SE) in the follicular to 8.9 +/- 2.2 ng/ml in the luteal phase. There was no difference in heart rate (HR), ventilation, O2 uptake, or CO2 output between the two phases during light and heavy exercise, and there was no difference in HR at exhaustion. Cardiac output measured midway through light and heavy exercise periods was not affected by the phase of testing. Time for which exhaustive exercise could be maintained increased from 1.57 +/- 0.32 in the follicular to 2.97 +/- 0.63 min in the luteal phase (P less than 0.02). Blood lactate was higher in the follicular phase after heavy exercise (6.62 +/- 0.8 vs. 4.92 +/- 0.5 mmol/l) (P less than 0.05) and at exhaustion (8.12 +/- 0.9 vs. 6.76 +/- 0.6 mmol/L) (P less than 0.01). A further study showed no effect of cycle phase on lactate disappearance during exercise. We conclude that while aerobic performance and the cardiorespiratory adaptations to exercise are not influenced by the phase of the menstrual cycle, performance of high-intensity exercise is improved, and lactate production appears to be decreased in the luteal phase when estradiol and progesterone levels are elevated.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. J. Horton, G. K. Grunwald, J. Lavely, and W. T. Donahoo Glucose kinetics differ between women and men, during and after exercise J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2006; 100(6): 1883 - 1894. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. M. Redman, G. C. Scroop, G. Westlander, and R. J. Norman Effect of a Synthetic Progestin on the Exercise Status of Sedentary Young Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2005; 90(7): 3830 - 3837. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. A. Jacobs, G. A. Casazza, S.-H. Suh, M. A. Horning, and G. A. Brooks Fatty acid reesterification but not oxidation is increased by oral contraceptive use in women J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2005; 98(5): 1720 - 1731. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. A. Casazza, K. A. Jacobs, S.-H. Suh, B. F. Miller, M. A. Horning, and G. A. Brooks Menstrual cycle phase and oral contraceptive effects on triglyceride mobilization during exercise J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2004; 97(1): 302 - 309. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. St. P. Schneider, J. P. Fine, T. Nadolski, and P. M. Tiidus The Effects of Estradiol and Progesterone on Plantarflexor Muscle Fatigue in Ovariectomized Mice Biol Res Nurs, April 1, 2004; 5(4): 265 - 275. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. M. Dean, L. Perreault, R. S. Mazzeo, and T. J. Horton No effect of menstrual cycle phase on lactate threshold J Appl Physiol, December 1, 2003; 95(6): 2537 - 2543. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. C. Ruby, A. R. Coggan, and T. W. Zderic Gender differences in glucose kinetics and substrate oxidation during exercise near the lactate threshold J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2002; 92(3): 1125 - 1132. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. D. Brutsaert, H. Spielvogel, E. Caceres, M. Araoz, R. T. Chatterton, and V. J. Vitzthum Effect of menstrual cycle phase on exercise performance of high-altitude native women at 3600 m J. Exp. Biol., January 15, 2002; 205(2): 233 - 239. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Muza, P. B. Rock, C. S. Fulco, S. Zamudio, B. Braun, A. Cymerman, G. E. Butterfield, and L. G. Moore Women at altitude: ventilatory acclimatization at 4,300 m J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2001; 91(4): 1791 - 1799. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. W. Zderic, A. R. Coggan, and B. C. Ruby Glucose kinetics and substrate oxidation during exercise in the follicular and luteal phases J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2001; 90(2): 447 - 453. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Preston, A. P. Heenan, and L. A. Wolfe Physicochemical analysis of phasic menstrual cycle effects on acid-base balance Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, February 1, 2001; 280(2): R481 - R487. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. P. Bailey, C. M. Zacher, and K. D. Mittleman Effect of menstrual cycle phase on carbohydrate supplementation during prolonged exercise to fatigue J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2000; 88(2): 690 - 697. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Beidleman, P. B. Rock, S. R. Muza, C. S. Fulco, V. A. Forte Jr., and A. Cymerman Exercise VE and physical performance at altitude are not affected by menstrual cycle phase J Appl Physiol, May 1, 1999; 86(5): 1519 - 1526. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Ettinger, D. H. Silber, K. S. Gray, M. B. Smith, Q. X. Yang, A. R. Kunselman, and L. I. Sinoway Effects of the ovarian cycle on sympathetic neural outflow during static exercise J Appl Physiol, December 1, 1998; 85(6): 2075 - 2081. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Carl De Cree, P. Ball, B. Seidlitz, G. Van Kranenburg, P. Geurten, and H. A. Keizer Responses of Catecholestrogen Metabolism to Acute Graded Exercise in Normal Menstruating Women before and after Training J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 1997; 82(10): 3342 - 3348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]