Menstrual Cycle and Hormonal Contraceptives in Female Athletes: Should Symptoms and Nutrition Matter More than Cycle Phase? A Narrative Review - PubMed
3 hours ago
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- #female athletes
- #menstrual cycle
- Menstrual cycle phases and hormonal contraceptives have inconsistent and generally small effects on athletic performance.
- Symptom burden (e.g., pain, fatigue) is a key practical factor influencing daily training tolerance in female athletes.
- Nutrition is a modifiable factor that impacts metabolic responses, symptom severity, and performance consistency.
- Endocrine context can influence substrate use, connective tissue, fatigue regulation, and metabolism.
- Individualized approaches focusing on symptoms and nutrition may be more important than cycle phase.