Menstrual Cycle and Women's Performance
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Menstrual Cycle Tracking, Performance and Strength Testing, Musculoskeletal Assessment, Body Composition and Symptom Assessment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Menstrual Cycle, Physical Performance, Muscle Strength, Musculoskeletal System. Basic parameters: 18 years — 35 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Czechia
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
The Relationship Between the Menstrual Cycle and Physical Performance in Women
Overview
This study examines how different phases of the menstrual cycle are associated with selected performance and musculoskeletal parameters in physically active women aged 18-35 years. Participants will track their menstrual cycle using a mobile app for approximately 2 months and attend 3 laboratory visits scheduled to specific cycle phases. At each visit, participants will complete non-invasive assessments including lower-limb strength/performance testing, musculoskeletal measurements (muscle and tendon properties), body composition assessment, and symptom-related questionnaires. The goal is to improve understanding of physiological variability across the menstrual cycle and support evidence-based planning of training, testing, and clinical practice in women.
Detailed description
Background and rationale:
Female physiology changes across menstrual cycle phases, which may influence neuromuscular performance, perceived symptoms, and selected tissue/mechanical properties. Current evidence is heterogeneous, partly due to methodological differences in cycle-phase identification and measurement protocols. This study aims to provide standardized data from repeated within-subject assessments across the menstrual cycle.
Objectives:
Primary objective is to evaluate associations between menstrual cycle phase and selected performance-related outcomes in physically active women.
Secondary objectives are to explore phase-related differences in musculoskeletal parameters, body composition outputs, and self-reported symptoms.
Study design:
Prospective, repeated-measures observational study. Each participant is measured repeatedly across predefined menstrual cycle phases.
Participants:
Women from the general population, 18-35 years, with occasional to recreational physical activity level.
Procedures:
Screening and eligibility confirmation according to protocol criteria.
Menstrual cycle tracking via mobile application for approximately 2 months.
Three laboratory visits timed to predefined cycle phases.
At each visit, non-invasive assessments are performed, including:
lower-limb strength/performance testing,
assessment of muscle and tendon mechanical properties,
body composition measurement,
recording of subjectively perceived menstrual-related symptoms.
Outcomes:
Main outcomes include phase-specific differences/associations in selected performance and musculoskeletal variables; additional outcomes include symptom profiles and selected body-composition variables.
Duration and setting:
Individual participation lasts approximately 2 months including cycle tracking and 3 lab visits (approximately 60-90 minutes per visit). Study procedures are conducted at FTVS UK (Prague).
Ethics and data protection:
Participation is voluntary, and participants may withdraw at any time without giving a reason. Data are processed in compliance with applicable data-protection regulations (including GDPR), pseudonymized for analysis, and reported in aggregate/anonymized form. The study is conducted according to institutional ethics approval and the Declaration of Helsinki.
Interventions
- Other Menstrual Cycle Tracking
Menstrual cycle monitoring using a mobile application for approximately 2 months to schedule laboratory visits to predefined cycle phases. - Other Performance and Strength Testing
Repeated lower-limb performance/strength assessments during laboratory visits in different menstrual cycle phases. - Other Musculoskeletal Assessment
Non-invasive assessment of selected muscle and tendon mechanical properties across cycle phases. - Other Body Composition and Symptom Assessment
Body composition measurement and collection of self-reported menstrual-related symptoms at laboratory visits.
Primary outcome measures
- Phase-specific change in lower-limb neuromuscular performance across the menstrual cycle [Time frame: Assessed at 3 laboratory visits across approximately 2 months (cycle tracking period)]
Secondary outcome measures (4)
- Phase-specific differences in muscle mechanical properties [Time frame: Assessed at 3 laboratory visits across approximately 2 months]
- Phase-specific differences in tendon mechanical properties [Time frame: Assessed at 3 laboratory visits across approximately 2 months]
- Phase-specific differences in body composition variables [Time frame: Assessed at 3 laboratory visits across approximately 2 months]
- Menstrual-related symptom profile across menstrual cycle phases [Time frame: Collected during cycle tracking and at 3 laboratory visits across approximately 2 months]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Female, age 18-35 years
Premenopausal
Occasional to recreational level of physical activity
Willing and able to track menstrual cycle using a mobile application for approximately 2 months
Willing and able to attend 3 laboratory visits scheduled to predefined menstrual cycle phases
Able to provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
- Irregular menstrual cycle (outside protocol-defined regularity)
Current pregnancy
Use of hormonal medication for therapeutic purposes (per protocol)
Current acute illness at time of testing
Musculoskeletal injury of the lower limb limiting safe performance testing
Contraindication to body composition assessment methods used in the study (e.g., BIA/DXA, per site protocol)
Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, may interfere with safe participation or data quality
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Czechia · 1 center
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, José Martího 269/31 — Prague
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07462286 · EK 008/2026