Menstrual cycle phase and elite female soccer match-play: influence on various physical performance outputs

Introduction

The aim of the study was to investigate whether menstrual cycle phases influence the physical performance during soccer match-play.

Methods

Fifteen elite female soccer players, with physiologically normal menstrual cycles, competed in matches over a four-month period. Physical performance was assessed via GPS and expressed as meters per minute, and separated into four individualised thresholds (low, high, very high and sprinting). Seventy-six complete individual match observations, 36 from the follicular and 40 from the luteal phase were recorded. The differences in physical match performance parameters between the cycle phases were evaluated using a mixed linear model.

Results

The results of the current study indicate that very high-intensity running distance was significantly greater during the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase (5.90 ± 2.16 m^.min⁻¹ vs. 6.64 ± 2.72 m^.min⁻¹; p = 0.02). However, this finding was accompanied by large variations across matches (CV = 39.5%).

Conclusions

Overall, the results suggest that the menstrual cycle phase does not influence match physical performance of female soccer players to a significant degree. Therefore, at present, interventions or other methods of coping with menstrual cycle phase do not seem necessary on a group/team level to maximise competitive physical performance.