Menstrual cycles and attitudes were affected by the athletic training of female handball players

Abstract

It is possible that the menstrual cycles and attitudes of female athletes are affected by strenuous exercise or training. The present study investigated the fluctuation of sex steroids, physical symptoms and Profile of Mood States (POMS) of 12 handball players (19.8 ± 1.4 years) with regular mensturations between menstrual cycle phases (menstrual phase, follicular phase, luteal phase). 15 non-handball players (20.1 ± 1.2 years) formed a control group. Estradiol and progesterone levels in serum were measured by radioimmunoassay. The hormone levels of both subjects varied among the menstrual cycle phases, but handball players had significantly lower levels of estradiol and progesterone than controls during the luteal phase. During the menstrual phase, abdominal symptoms and breast tenderness were higher for both subjects, but handball players had less variety and a lower degree of severity of symptoms than controls. No differences were found in the scores between the phases, which suggests that the differences of the secretion of sex steroids and physical symptoms were caused by strenuous exercise or training. Further, the subjects were asked about their attitudes to menstruation by questionnaire. The result of this questionnaire was that both subjects viewed menstruation negatively, however the belief in the "menstruation as a bothersome event" was higher among Handball players.