protocolSection identificationModule nctId: NCT06377306, orgStudyIdInfo id: MC study, briefTitle: Identifying Periods of High Training Load Considering the Menstrual Cycle Phases in Elite and Non-elite Female Athletes, statusModule overallStatus: RECRUITING, startDateStruct date: 2023-11-05, primaryCompletionDateStruct date: 2026-01-30, completionDateStruct date: 2027-01-30, studyFirstPostDateStruct date: 2024-04-22, lastUpdatePostDateStruct date: 2024-04-22, sponsorCollaboratorsModule leadSponsor name: Wingate Institute, class: OTHER, collaborators name: Weizmann Institute of Science, collaborators name: Kaplan Medical Center, collaborators name: Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology of Israel, descriptionModule briefSummary: Despite a rise in the number of women participating in competitive sports, there remains a gender gap within sport and exercise science literature. Studying females involves potential "noise" through the change in hormone concentrations during the different phases of the female menstrual cycle (MC) which can potentially affect physiological parameters, thereby making study design and interpretation of findings difficult. Longitudinal data on the acute and chronic combined effects of training load and MC phases on circulating female hormones in elite and non-elite female athletes is lacking.The investigators aim to characterize and track the potential effects of training load and MC phases on performance, anthropometric measures, sport emotions, intestinal microbiome, serum metabolites and injury prevalence in elite and non-elite female athletes.200 competitive premenopausal female athletes will be recruited. In a longitudinal observational design, each participant will be followed for 1 year, and tested at three time points. At each point, data will be collected on two occasions reflecting distinct phases of the MC.Finding the possible relationship between the MC phases, training load and performance or specific bio-markers for training load are of utmost importance and can assist professionals to identify periods of high load and over-training, thus preventing injuries and training adjustment., conditionsModule conditions: Menstrual Cycle, conditions: Athletes, conditions: Physical Activity, designModule studyType: OBSERVATIONAL, designInfo observationalModel: COHORT, timePerspective: PROSPECTIVE, enrollmentInfo count: 200, type: ESTIMATED, armsInterventionsModule interventions name: Effect of training loads and sport performance level on health and sport performance, outcomesModule primaryOutcomes measure: Stool Microbiome, primaryOutcomes measure: Serum metabolomics, primaryOutcomes measure: VO2max, primaryOutcomes measure: Countermovement jump, primaryOutcomes measure: Flexibility, primaryOutcomes measure: Grip Strength, primaryOutcomes measure: Lower leg Strength, primaryOutcomes measure: Blood tests, primaryOutcomes measure: Knee valgus, secondaryOutcomes measure: Anthropometric (Height), secondaryOutcomes measure: Psychological questionnaire (Positive-Affect Negative-Affect scale - PANAS), secondaryOutcomes measure: Anthropometric (Weight), secondaryOutcomes measure: Percentage body fat (%), otherOutcomes measure: Psychological questionnaire (The Sport Emotion Questionnaire (SEQ), eligibilityModule sex: FEMALE, minimumAge: 18 Years, maximumAge: 50 Years, stdAges: ADULT, contactsLocationsModule locations facility: Wingate Institute, status: RECRUITING, city: Netanya, country: Israel, contacts name: Yotam Shribman, B.Sc, role: CONTACT, phone: +972-54-5723401, email: research@wingate.org.il, geoPoint lat: 32.33291, lon: 34.85992, hasResults: False