{"id":19666,"date":"2024-01-04T20:37:47","date_gmt":"2024-01-05T02:37:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalwomanhood.org\/menstrual-cycle-athletic-performance\/"},"modified":"2024-09-16T09:58:30","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T14:58:30","slug":"%d0%bc%d0%b5%d0%bd%d1%81%d1%82%d1%80%d1%83%d0%b0%d0%bb%d1%8c%d0%bd%d1%8b%d0%b9-%d1%86%d0%b8%d0%ba%d0%bb-%d1%81%d0%bf%d0%be%d1%80%d1%82%d0%b8%d0%b2%d0%bd%d1%8b%d0%b5-%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b7%d1%83%d0%bb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalwomanhood.org\/ru\/menstrual-cycle-athletic-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0421\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0442\u0441\u043c\u0435\u043d\u043a\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0430\u0437\u044b\u0432\u0430\u044e\u0442 \u0445\u0443\u0434\u0448\u0438\u0435 \u0440\u0435\u0437\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044b \u0432\u043e \u0432\u0440\u0435\u043c\u044f \u043c\u0435\u043d\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0443\u0430\u0446\u0438\u0438: \u043a\u0430\u043a \u043c\u0435\u043d\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0443\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0446\u0438\u043a\u043b \u0432\u043b\u0438\u044f\u0435\u0442 \u043d\u0430 \u0441\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0442\u0438\u0432\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u0440\u0435\u0437\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044b"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I performed very well today,\u201d Fu Yuanhaui, Chinese Olympic swimmer, said<\/a> in her post-swim interview at the 2016 Rio Olympics. \u201cIt\u2019s because my period came yesterday, so I felt particularly tired \u2014 but this isn\u2019t an excuse, I still didn\u2019t swim well enough.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Female athletes in all arenas of sport might be able to relate to Yuanhaui\u2019s sentiments. Many women believe their athletic performance is worse during their periods due to symptoms like cramps, headaches, or fatigue. In a study<\/a> of elite female soccer players from the United Kingdom, researchers found that over half of the women surveyed reported poor appetite and sleep quality during menstruation [1]. They believed that this in turn contributed to their poorer performance during games. Nearly all of the players said that they had more fatigue and less physical power while they were on their periods, with two-thirds of them requiring over the counter pain medication to control their symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How might the menstrual cycle affect athletic performance?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But, there\u2019s more to the story than just how being on your period affects athletic performance. Women experience an entire cycle of hormones every month that has both peaks and valleys. In this article, I\u2019ll explore not just how menstruation can affect the athletic capabilities of female athletes, but how the entire cycle<\/em> can influence performance. We\u2019ll tackle some of the controversies surrounding \u201ccycle syncing\u201d, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I\u2019ve written previously<\/a>, sports were largely not designed for the female body, as female athletes can face a wide-range of physical issues from years of high-intensity athletics. One of the more common side effects of athletics for women is the loss of their period, or amenorrhea<\/a>. This is a problem because the menstrual cycle is a vital sign<\/a> for women, meaning that it is a necessary marker of health. However, the cycle is not only impacted by intense activity, but it also works in reverse: the cycle can affect how the female body performs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the cycle is not only impacted by intense activity, but it also works in reverse: the cycle can affect how the female body performs. <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are two primary phases and two main events of the menstrual cycle<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The menstrual cycle<\/a> contains two distinct phases (the follicular phase and the luteal phase) plus two distinct events (ovulation and menstruation). During the follicular phase, a hormone called follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) is released, causing the follicles in the ovary to mature and produce estrogen. The lining in the uterus thickens, the cervix begins to produce mucus, and there\u2019s a peak in the luteinizing hormone (LH) all to prepare for the main event \u2014 ovulation.\u00a0While FSH tells many follicles to mature, only one<\/em> follicle (or two, in the case of fraternal twins!) fully matures and is released during ovulation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After ovulation happens, the “leftovers” from the follicle form the corpus luteum<\/a>, which produces progesterone. This kicks off the luteal phase, which is dominated by the hormone progesterone. Estrogen peaks again during the luteal phase, but to a lesser extent than in the follicular phase. After about 11-15 days, assuming the egg was not fertilized, the corpus luteum dissolves and the shedding of the endometrial<\/a> lining, AKA menstruation, begins.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cycle syncing may help you work with your body\u2019s natural hormonal highs and lows<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All of these changes can cause outward symptoms during each phase, from the hormonal peak of ovulation to the hormonal valley of the end of the luteal phase and beginning of menstruation. This is why some experts recommend working with your cycle by using cycle syncing<\/a>, a practice that involves building your lifestyle around the phases of your cycle. From an athletic context, this can look like<\/a> the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n