Influence of Menstrual Cycle or Hormonal Contraceptive Phase on Physiological Variables Monitored During Treadmill Testing

Purpose: To examine the influence of menstrual cycle (MC) and hormonal contraceptive (HC) cycle phases on physiological variables monitored during incremental treadmill testing in physically active women (eumenorrheic, EUM = 16 and monophasic HC-users, CHC = 12).Methods: Four running tests to exhaustion were performed at bleeding, mid follicular (mid FOL)/active 1, ovulation/active 2, and mid luteal (mid LUT)/inactive. HC and MC phases were confirmed from serum hormones. Heart rate (HR), blood lactate (Bla), and V˙O2 were monitored, while aerobic (AerT) and anaerobic (AnaT) thresholds were determined. V˙O2peak, maximal running speed (RUNpeak), and total running time (RUNtotal) were recorded.Results: No significant changes were observed in V˙O2 or Bla at AerT or AnaT across phases in either group. At maximal effort, absolute and relative V˙O2peak, RUNpeak, and RUNtotal remained stable across phases in both groups. No significant fluctuations in HRmax were observed across phases, but HR at both AerT and AnaT tended to be lower in EUM than in CHC across phases.Conclusion: Hormonal fluctuations over the MC and HC do not systematically influence physiological variables monitored during incremental treadmill testing. Between group differences in HR at AerT and AnaT underline why HR-based training should be prescribed individually, while recording of MC or HC use when testing should be encouraged as phase may explain minor, but possibly meaningful, changes in, e.g., Bla concentrations or differences in HR response.

Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies & Self-Concept Clarity Among Females With and Without Hormonal Imbalance

Background: The role of hormones in the female body is well known in reproductive age. Several studies have been conducted regarding hormonal fluctuations and their association with obsessive-compulsive disorder, but the role of psychological issues relevant to it has been ignored and only hormonal fluctuation and its impact were the target. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Self-Concept Clarity (SCC) and obsessive-compulsive tendencies (Obsessive-Compulsive Concerns about Cleanliness (OCC) and Obsessive-Compulsive concerns about Harm and Injury (OCHI)). Another objective was to identify the difference between SCC, OCC, and OCHI in healthy and unhealthy females. Methods: A sample of (N=210) females, an equal number of healthy and unhealthy females, from different hospitals and the general population, with a mean age of 21 years, was selected by using convenience sampling technique as a type of non-probability sampling. Study participants were selected from the same city. Results: Comparison of healthy and unhealthy females revealed high levels of SCC and obsessive-compulsive tendencies among unhealthy females and also a significant positive correlation was found between these constructs. Conclusion: The females with irregular hormonal fluctuations develop obsessive-compulsive tendencies and these people are most sensitive to unimportant affairs, even sensitive to themselves that might create clarity in their self-concept.

Youth Athlete Development and Nutrition

Adolescence (ages 13–18 years) is a period of significant growth and physical development that includes changes in body composition, metabolic and hormonal fluctuations, maturation of organ systems, and establishment of nutrient deposits, which all may affect future health. In terms of nutrition, adolescence is also an important time in establishing an individual’s lifelong relationship with food, which is particularly important in terms of the connection between diet, exercise, and body image. The challenges of time management (e.g., school, training, work and social commitments) and periods of fluctuating emotions are also features of this period. In addition, an adolescent’s peers become increasingly powerful moderators of all behaviours, including eating. Adolescence is also a period of natural experimentation and this can extend to food choice. Adolescent experiences are not the same and individuals vary considerably in their behaviours. To ensure an adolescent athlete fulfils his/her potential, it is important that stakeholders involved in managing youth athletes emphasize eating patterns that align with and support sound physical, physiological and psychosocial development and are consistent with proven principles of sport nutrition.

High-amplitude network co-fluctuations linked to variation in hormone concentrations over menstrual cycle

Many studies have shown that the human endocrine system modulates brain function, reporting associations between fluctuations in hormone concentrations and both brain activity and connectivity. However, how hormonal fluctuations impact fast changes in brain network structure over short timescales remains unknown. Here, we leverage ``edge time series'' analysis to investigate the relationship between high-amplitude network states and quotidian variation in sex steroid and gonadotropic hormones in a single individual sampled over the course of two endocrine states, across a natural menstrual cycle and under a hormonal regimen. We find that the frequency of high-amplitude network states are associated with follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone, but not the sex hormones estradiol and progesterone. Nevertheless, we show that scan-to-scan variation in the co-fluctuation patterns expressed during network states are robustly linked with the concentration of all four hormones, positing a network-level target of hormonal control. We conclude by speculating on the role of hormones in shaping ongoing brain dynamics.

Migraine Associated with Menstruation An Overlooked Trigger

Menstrual migraine is a condition in females, where headaches are linked with menstruation and may be debilitating. Hormonal fluctuations could have a key role in migraine etiopathogenesis, as several women experience that their migraine attacks correlate with their menstrual cycle. Estrogen withdrawal appears to have a significant role in migraine associated with menstrual cycles, despite the fact that its pathophysiology is not well known. The treatment method can also vary from that used to treat nonmenstrual migraines. However, with proper identification and management of the condition, it can be bearable. This article highlights some portions of what is known about migraine, its triggers including the experience of a sufferer and aims to provide readers with a better understanding of migraine in women by understanding these aspects of the condition.

Temporomandibular disorder and serum levels of progesterone and estrogen: Systematic review

Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) is a pathology of the stomatognathic system characterized by a set of clinical disorders that includes a temporomandibular joint, a masticatory musculature and associated structures. It is the most common orofacial pain condition of non-dental origin and which is increasing among adults in the age group between 18 and 45 years with a not well defined etiology, mainly not with regard to its higher prevalence in women than men. The present study aimed to evaluate the literature if there is a relationship between the levels of progesterone and estrogen with the clinical manifestations of TMD. The systematic search was carried out in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, and LILACS, Scopus, Embase and Google Scholar in addition to a complementary manual search of cross-references of original articles. There was no time restriction. The descriptors used were "TMD" or "TMJ" and "progesterone" and "estrogen". Initially, 132 articles were found, were 15 presented the eligibility criteria to be read in full. In the end, 4 studies were included in the review. The conclusion was that most studies relate the variations of progesterone and estrogen to the symptoms of the disease; however, there are differences between them. Thus, it is recommended to carry out studies that analyze this relationship, leading to hormonal fluctuations ranging from reproductive age to post-menopause.

Cardiovascular disease: the gender divide

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is recognised to be a condition that affects men more than women overall, this risks underplaying the significant challenges relating to the diagnosis and management of CVD in women. Women are adversely affected compared to men in terms of diagnosis, acute management and implementation of secondary prevention, and the evidence base for treating women is lacking, due to the low numbers of women included in trials. Hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman's lifetime can also affect CVD risk. GPNs are ideally placed to consider the challenges of recognising and addressing CVD risk in women and to support them with engaging in reducing their lifetime risk.

REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE OF FEMALE JAVAN LANGUR (TRACHYPITHECUS AURATUS) BASED ON ESTROGEN AND LUTEINIZING HORMONE LEVELS

Currently, the information about Javan langurs female reproductive cycle in both cycle length and hormonal patterns is still widely unknown. Meanwhile, this information can be used as a guide in determining the fertile period of Javan langurs to conduct mating with higher pregnancy rate. The purpose of this study was to determine the reproductive cycle of adult female Javan langurs based on estrogen and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. The experimental animals was originated from Coban Talun forest in Batu, which was undergoing a rehabilitation program. Feces samples of two female Javan langurs were taken for 40 days. Examination of estrogen and LH hormone levels in the feces was carried out by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and then analyzed descriptively. The results showed that fluctuations in the graphs of the hormones estrogen and LH appeared on days 8 to 16 and days 30 to 40 which showed the existence of two reproductive cycles. Whereas younger langur showed a pattern of hormonal fluctuations that are less regular, making identification of the reproductive cycle difficult. Based from the results, we concluded that the reproductive cycle of female Javan langur was estimated about 24 days with a hormonal pattern consisting of the follicular phase, the ovulation period and the luteal phase.

The Female Menstrual Cycles Effect on Strength and Power Parameters in High-Level Female Team Athletes

PurposeThe female menstrual cycle (MC) is characterized by hormonal fluctuations throughout its different phases. However, research regarding its effect on athletic performance in high level athletes is sparse. The aim of this study was to (i) investigate the female MCs effect on strength and power performance in highly trained female team athletes throughout the MC and (ii) examine whether eumenorrheic participants with natural hormonal fluctuations displayed enhanced performance in the follicular phase (FP) versus the luteal phase (LP), compared to controls using hormonal contraceptives.Materials and MethodsA total of 29 athletes (Age 21.2 ± 3.3 years; weight 65.6 ± 8.7 kg; height 170.2 ± 8.0 cm; and fat free mass 52.7 ± 7.1) completed the study after a 6-week testing period (8 eumenorrheic participants and 21 hormonal contraceptive controls). Participants were recruited from the team sports soccer, handball and volleyball. Testing protocol consisted of maximal voluntary isometric grip strength, 20-m sprint, countermovement jump and pneumatic leg-press. Based on self-reported use of hormonal contraceptives, participants were divided into non-hormonal contraceptive group and hormonal contraceptive group, the latter working as a control group. Differences in performance between the FP and LP were investigated. MC phase was confirmed by serum hormonal levels through venous blood samples in the non-hormonal contraceptive group.ResultsThere were no statistically significant changes for the two different phases of the MC, in terms of physical performance for the whole group. Further, there was no significant difference between groups during the MC for any of the outcome variables, maximal voluntary isometric grip strength F(3.29) = 0.362; 20-m sprint F(3.24) = 0.710; countermovement jump F(3.26) = 2.361; and leg-press F(3.26) = 1.746.ConclusionIn high level female team athletes, no difference in performance was observed based on hormonal contraceptive status. This suggests that the MC does not alter acute strength and power performance on a group level in high level team athletes.