Date of Award
Spring 5-9-2025
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department/Major
Biology
Additional Department
Kinesiology and Sport Management
First Advisor
Jessie Daw
Second Advisor
Christopher Anderson
Third Advisor
Austin Bauer
Keywords
Menstrual Cycle, Hormone Fluctuations, Estrogen, Female, Recovery, Performance, Exercise
Subject Categories
Medicine and Health Sciences | Sports Sciences
Abstract
This literature review will examine the current research investigating the relationship between the female menstrual cycle, exercise performance, and exercise instruction. The menstrual cycle is a physiological series of events that includes specific hormones at each stage. These hormones may play a role in how females recover from exercise. This is particularly significant when considering the hormonal fluctuations across the female menstrual cycle, which influence recovery, injury risk, and exercise performance. This could indicate that the suggestions doctors and exercise trainers present to females may not be as beneficial for their health because the research is not specifically tailored to their hormonal cycle. While men and women share many physical capabilities, the unique hormonal patterns associated with the menstrual cycle suggest the need for tailored exercise and recovery strategies for women. This literature review aims to analyze current research on how hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle affect performance, exercise instruction, and recovery.
Recommended Citation
Burchill, Reagan E., "The Menstrual Cycle and Exercise Performance: A Literature Review" (2025). Honors Thesis. 378.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/378