Why We Must Stop Assuming and Estimating Menstrual Cycle Phases in Laboratory and Field-Based Sport Related Research
The increased growth, popularity, and media interest in women's sport has led to calls for greater prioritisation of female-specific research and innovation. In response, science and medicine researchers have increased the volume of sport-related studies investigating female-specific matters, such as the menstrual cycle. Whilst the accelerated rate of published studies with female participants is welcome, the emerging trend of using assumed or estimated menstrual cycle phases to characterise ovarian hormone profiles is a significant concern. Replacing direct measurements of key characteristics of the menstrual cycle (e.g. the surge in luteinising hormone prior to ovulation via urine detection and sufficient luteal phase progesterone via blood or saliva sampling) with assumptions or estimates (i.e. no measurements) is proposed to be a pragmatic and convenient way of generating data, particularly in field-based research (i.e. elite athlete environments), where time, resources, and athlete availability are sometimes constrained. Using assumed or estimated phases, however, amounts to guessing the occurrence and timing of ovarian hormone fluctuations and risks potentially significant implications for female athlete health, training, performance, injury, etc., as well as resource deployment. The positive intentions of researchers and scientific journals in this space are not in question. The aim of this Current Opinion is to explain why using assumed or estimated menstrual cycle phases is an approach that has little scientific basis and lacks the rigour and appropriate methodological quality to produce valid and reliable data. In doing so, we provide evidence-based responses to common speculation points and offer recommendations for future research.
Authors
- Madison Taylor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4241-3004)
- Kirsty Jayne Elliott-Sale (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1122-5099)
- Stuart M. Phillips (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1956-4098)
- T.R. Flood (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8897-0957)
- Franco M. Impellizzeri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1703-2573)
- Marco Altini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5981-4066)
- Patricia K. Doyle–Baker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9296-8921)
- Paul Alan Swinton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9663-0696)
- Evert A.L.M. Verhagen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9227-8234)
- Rachel Harris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1955-894X)
- Alan McCall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3780-8153)
- Eva Ferrer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9716-1577)
- Richard Burden (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2811-5454)
- Katrine Okholm Kryger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0924-6181)
- Xanne Janse de Jonge (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3657-5298)
- Sophia Nimphius (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3524-0245)
- Constance Lebrun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7408-4521)
- Gary Lewin
Institutions
- University of Technology Sydney (AU)
- Griffith University (AU)
- Manchester Metropolitan University (GB)
- Edith Cowan University (AU)
- Australian Sports Commission (AU)
- Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona (ES)
- English Institute of Sport (GB)
- University of Alberta (CA)
- University of Calgary (CA)
- Fédération Internationale de Football Association (CH)
- North Sydney Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Centre (AU)
- United Kingdom Sport (GB)
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers (NL)
- Manchester City Football Club (GB)
- Health & Safety in Sports (NL)
- Robert Gordon University (GB)
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway (NO)
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- McMaster University (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Sports Medicine
- Published
- 2025-03-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-025-02189-3
- Citations
- 31
- Primary Topic
- Sports Performance and Training
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 53.36