Conclusion : The literature suggests an association between hormonal fluctuations and ACL injury .
Recent studies have suggested that oral contraceptives may offer up to a 20 % reduction in risk of injury .
Background : Women are at substantially greater risk for anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) injuries than are men .
Purpose : To conduct a systematic review and meta- analysis of the literature to clarify the effect of the menstrual cycle and contraceptives on the laxity of and noncontact injuries to the ACL .
Hormonal therapy: ACL and ankle injury.
BACKGROUND No definitive explanation for the difference in rate of male and female noncontact ACL injury has been found . The hormonal environment , known to be different in men and women has been hypothesized as a possible source for this difference in injury rate . PURPOSE To confirm earlier work looking at periodicity of noncontact ACL injury . To increase sample size by adding ankle sprains . To determine the rate of  noncontact ACL injury and ankle sprains in collegiate basketball and soccer . To determine if the use of oral contraceptives affects the rate of noncontact ACL injury and ankle sprains . METHODS Data was collected from a sample of NCAA schools over the 2000 - 2001 basketball and the 2001 - 2002 basketball and soccer seasons . RESULTS Recall and prospect i ve data collection of length of menstrual cycle did not produce equivalent results . Periodicity was present only in the recall group of " off pill " users . The rate of noncontact ACL injury and noncontact ankle sprains was twice as high in basketball as in soccer . There was no difference in rate of injuries between those athletes using  hormonal therapy and those athletes not using hormonal therapy . CONCLUSIONS Noncontact ACL injuries and ankle sprains occurred at significantly higher rates in basketball than in soccer but this rate difference was not linked to hormonal therapy usage . The overall rate of noncontact ACL injury and ankle sprain to women 's collegiate basketball and soccer players is very low
Conclusion : The literature suggests an association between hormonal fluctuations and ACL injury .
Recent studies have suggested that oral contraceptives may offer up to a 20 % reduction in risk of injury .
Background : Women are at substantially greater risk for anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) injuries than are men .
Purpose : To conduct a systematic review and meta- analysis of the literature to clarify the effect of the menstrual cycle and contraceptives on the laxity of and noncontact injuries to the ACL .