Menstrual symptoms in Division I female athletes

Purpose: To quantify the frequency of menstrual cycle (MC) symptoms experienced by Division I female lacrosse athletes and to discover if the symptoms were different among those who were taking a hormone contraceptive (HC) compared to those who were not (non-HC). Methods: As part of a daily wellness survey, athletes (non-HC = 10, HC = 11) were asked if they were menstruating. If they were, they were asked to identify any symptoms they were experiencing. The symptoms were recorded for each day of menstruation during their four-month competitive season. Reported symptoms were categorized as frequently, sometimes, rarely, or never. The frequencies of symptoms were tabulated in total and per cycle for each group. Results: The most frequently reported symptom was cramps with 90.4% of athletes reporting experiencing it at least once. Headaches (66%), back pain, and skin problems (57% each) were also frequently reported. HC users (0.7 ± 1.4 times/cycle) reported mood swings more frequently than non-HC users (0.03 ± 0.08, p = 0.029), but there were no other group differences for symptoms. Conclusions: Tracking symptoms associated with MC can help athletes and coaches be aware of patterns and incorporate methods for mitigating or alleviating the symptoms. Symptom tracking can also help athletes mentally prepare for the effects of their MC on training and performance. More research is needed before recommending HC use as a management strategy for menstrual symptoms.