Investigating the Impact of the Menstrual Cycle Phases on Agility Performance in Female Football Players
Xu, Silu (2025)
2025
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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052917826
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052917826
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This study investigated the possible connection between the phases of the menstrual cycle and agility performance in female football players in collaboration with Kajaanin HAKA women’s team as the commissioning party. The contraceptive pill users were also included in this study to serve as a control group. The research involved monitoring participants’ menstrual cycles and the timing of oral contraceptive pill use through self-reports, along with performing agility and reactive agility tests at different stages of their cycles.
A total of seven female football athletes were recruited and categorized into two groups: the naturally menstruating group and the oral contraceptive group. Members of the naturally menstruating group reported their menstrual cycle status and associated symptoms weekly via a pseudonymous online questionnaire. The Illinois Agility Test and the Reactive Agility Test (Y-shaped test) were conducted according to the menstrual cycle phase for the naturally menstruating group and the pill cycle for the oral contraceptive group. In total, six participants (three from each group) completed the study and were included in the analysis. Self-reported symptoms suggested that phase 2 (strong estrogen peak) had fewer physical and emotional symptoms, indicating a sense of stability and a generally positive mental state. In contrast, phase 1 (5 days from the onset of bleeding) posed significant physical and emotional challenges that could negatively affect performance and training ability.
The Illinois Agility Test demonstrated a moderate positive linear correlation (r = 0.413) in the naturally menstruating group, while the oral contraceptive group exhibited a notably weak correlation (r = –0.22, ρ = –0.12). The Reactive Agility Test showed weak correlations for both groups, with the naturally menstruating group showing (r = –0.19, p = 0.08) and the oral contraceptive group (r = 0.35, p = 0.25). This study indicates that the menstrual cycle might impact agility performance; however, the correlation is deemed weak according to the results, and the overall trend remains unclear. Future research that involves larger sample sizes and enhanced methods for accurately identifying menstrual cycle phases is encouraged.
A total of seven female football athletes were recruited and categorized into two groups: the naturally menstruating group and the oral contraceptive group. Members of the naturally menstruating group reported their menstrual cycle status and associated symptoms weekly via a pseudonymous online questionnaire. The Illinois Agility Test and the Reactive Agility Test (Y-shaped test) were conducted according to the menstrual cycle phase for the naturally menstruating group and the pill cycle for the oral contraceptive group. In total, six participants (three from each group) completed the study and were included in the analysis. Self-reported symptoms suggested that phase 2 (strong estrogen peak) had fewer physical and emotional symptoms, indicating a sense of stability and a generally positive mental state. In contrast, phase 1 (5 days from the onset of bleeding) posed significant physical and emotional challenges that could negatively affect performance and training ability.
The Illinois Agility Test demonstrated a moderate positive linear correlation (r = 0.413) in the naturally menstruating group, while the oral contraceptive group exhibited a notably weak correlation (r = –0.22, ρ = –0.12). The Reactive Agility Test showed weak correlations for both groups, with the naturally menstruating group showing (r = –0.19, p = 0.08) and the oral contraceptive group (r = 0.35, p = 0.25). This study indicates that the menstrual cycle might impact agility performance; however, the correlation is deemed weak according to the results, and the overall trend remains unclear. Future research that involves larger sample sizes and enhanced methods for accurately identifying menstrual cycle phases is encouraged.