Monitoring the menstrual cycle and training in female athletes: performance matching study

Summary

Recruiting female athletes aged 18-35 yrs to participate in a study aimed at improving our understanding of the menstrual cycle in athletic populations. Participants will gain insights into their own menstrual cycle hormones. These hormones will be paired to training data. The study is open to athletes who are naturally menstruating or who are using the birth control pill or have an IUD (which can be copper or hormonal).

Participants will track their training and menstrual cycle details for approximately three cycles. No lab visits are required; almost all of the measures can be completed at home.
-At the beginning of the study, you would complete a baseline questionnaire.
-Each day throughout the study, you would complete a short questionnaire (1-2 minutes) to report training details, symptoms, and bleeding. We will also provide you with an Oura ring to wear throughout the study that collects data on recovery.
-Every three days, you would complete an at-home salivary test where you spit in a small test tube. We will provide you with a mailing kit for you to mail your samples to a lab that will assess your estrogen and progesterone hormone levels.
-Around the middle of each cycle, you would take at-home urinary ovulation tests to determine ovulation date.
-You may also be asked to perform some brief performance tests (bike and jump) to help us understand changes in performance throughout the menstrual cycle.

The research team will provide a report at the end of the study that will show hormone levels patterns paired to the training data that you report. This could be used to help inform how you train throughout your menstrual cycle.