Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Feb 13;20(4):3264.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043264.

Menstrual Cycle and Sport Injuries: A Systematic Review

Núria Martínez-Fortuny  1 , Alejandra Alonso-Calvete  1   2 , Iria Da Cuña-Carrera  1   3 , Rocío Abalo-Núñez  1   3
Affiliations

Menstrual Cycle and Sport Injuries: A Systematic Review

Núria Martínez-Fortuny et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The presence of female athletes has only increased in recent years, as has the incidence of injuries in female sports activities. These injuries are conditioned by multiple factors, including hormonal agents. It is estimated that the menstrual cycle may be related to the predisposition to suffer an injury. However, a causal relationship has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between the menstrual cycle and injuries in female sports practice. A systematic search of the scientific literature available in PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Sport Discus was carried out in January 2022. With 138 articles, only eight studies were found that met the selection criteria for this study. Peak estradiol is associated with increased laxity, strength, and poor use of neuromuscular control. Thus, the ovulatory phase is associated with an increased risk of injury. In conclusion, it seems that hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle alter values such as laxity, strength, body temperature, and neuromuscular control, among others. This fact causes women to constantly adapt to hormonal variations, which exposes them to a higher risk of injury.

Keywords: athletes; menstrual cycle; sports; sports injuries.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart (PRISMA).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Konovalova E. El ciclo menstrual y el entranmiento deportivo; una mirada al problema. Rev. UDCA Actual. Divulg. Cient. 2013;16:293–302. doi: 10.31910/rudca.v16.n2.2013.900. - DOI
    1. Bonen A., Keizer H.A. Athletic Menstrual Cycle Irregularity: Endocrine Response to Exercise and Training. Phys. Sportsmed. 1984;12:78–94. doi: 10.1080/00913847.1984.11701925. - DOI
    1. Wojtys E.M., Jannausch M.L., Kreinbrink J.L., Harlow S.D., Sowers M.R. Athletic activity and hormone concentrations in high school female athletes. J. Athl. Train. 2015;50:185–192. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-49.3.62. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Moore K.L., Persaud T.V.N. Embriología Clínica. 9th ed. Elsevier España, S.L.; Barcelona, Spain: 2013. pp. 20–26.
    1. Godoy R.C., Pérez L.F., Curbelo S.T., Bosch N. Fisiología reproductiva femenina: Hormonas sexuales y sus ciclos. BioCancer Res. J. 2004;2:10.

Publication types