Identifying Periods of High Training Load Considering the Menstrual Cycle Phases in Elite and Non-elite Female Athletes
Recruiting now
Conditions studied: Menstrual Cycle, Athletes, Physical Activity
In brief
Despite a rise in the number of women participating in competitive sports, there remains a gender gap within sport and exercise science literature. Studying females involves potential "noise" through the change in hormone concentrations during the different phases of the female menstrual cycle (MC) which can potentially affect physiological parameters, thereby making study design and interpretation of findings difficult. Longitudinal data on the acute and chronic combined effects of training load and MC phases on circulating female hormones in elite and non-elite female athletes is lacking. The investigators aim to characterize and track the potential effects of training load and MC phases on performance, anthropometric measures, sport emotions, intestinal microbiome, serum metabolites and injury prevalence in elite and non-elite female athletes. 200 competitive premenopausal female athletes will be recruited. In a longitudinal observational design, each participant will be followed for 1 year, and tested at three time points. At each point, data will be collected on two occasions reflecting distinct phases of the MC. Finding the possible relationship between the MC phases, training load and performance or specific bio-markers for training load are of utmost importance and can assist professionals to identify periods of high load and over-training, thus preventing injuries and training adjustment.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT06377306
- Run by
- Wingate Institute
- People needed
- 200
- Starts
- 2023-11-05
- Expected to finish
- 2027-01-30
- Last updated by the study team
- 2024-04-22
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 50. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Elite athletes are defined as participating and competing at national and/or international level at their sports.
- Non-elite athletes are defined as performing at least 3 hours of physical activity per week.
You may not qualify if…
- Currently pregnant or lactating or planning a pregnancy in the following year.
- Regular drug use which may affect performance, including but not limited to performance enhancing drugs.
- Any medical diagnosis, including recent or current injury, which could affect performance and/or health under the discretion of the study team.
Where it is running
- Wingate Institute — Netanya, Israel (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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