PURPOSE: Fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone across the menstrual cycle (MC) influence multiple biological systems associated with performance, however any influence of MC phase or hormonal contraceptive (HC) use on performance is inconclusive. This uncertainty is generally due to the poor methodological classification and control of hormonal profiles in available studies. Accordingly, we examined physical and cognitive performance across the MC and with HC use, employing gold standard protocols for the classification and control of menstrual status.

METHODS: Tier 3 National Rugby League Indigenous Women’s Academy athletes (n=11 naturally menstruating, n=13 using HC) completed performance tests (countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), isometric mid-thigh pull, 20 m sprint, power pass and Stroop test) at three phases of the MC/HC cycle, confirmed through ovulation tests and retrospective serum oestrogen/progesterone concentrations. Results were assessed through linear mixed models to compare MC phases one and four (as phase two could not be confirmed in ten out of eleven athletes) and HC tests one and three, alongside repeated measures correlations between performance indices and oestradiol/progesterone concentration in naturally menstruating athletes.

RESULTS: MC phase or HC use did not influence CMJ/SJ height, isometric mid-thigh pull peak force, fastest sprint time, distance thrown in the power pass or the Stroop effect. However, while physical performance was unchanged, there were small variations in kinetic and kinematic outputs across the CMJ/SJ among naturally menstruating athletes. Athletes produced greater mean concentric power in MC phase four than one (+0.41 W·kg^-1 (+16.8%), p=0.021) during the CMJ, alongside greater impulse at 50 ms at MC phase one than four (+1.7 N·s (+4.7%), p=0.031) during the SJ, while power and impulse did not differ at these timepoints between tests for HC users. During the SJ, oestradiol and progesterone were negatively correlated with rate of force development at 50 and 100 ms (r= –0.45 to –0.58, p<0.043) and impulse at 50, 100 and 150 ms (r= –0.49 to –0.64, p<0.024). Oestradiol was also negatively correlated with mean velocity (r= –0.50, p=0.023) and relative mean power (r= –0.44, p=0.047) in the SJ, while progesterone positively correlated with contraction time (r=0.45, p=0.045). During the CMJ, oestradiol was positively correlated to impulse at 200 ms (r=0.45, p=0.049) and progesterone to relative mean power (r=0.51, p=0.021).

CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence of changes in physical performance across the MC, or with HC use, but kinetic and kinematic outputs may be altered. Further research including other MC phases is required to fully understand the effects of oestrogen and progesterone alongside elucidating causality and underpinning mechanisms.

Disclosures: This project was funded by the Australian Catholic University, Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance and Australian Institute of Sport.