Resistance Training and Sex Hormone Concentrations During the Menstrual Cycle

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Although there are numerous studies showing effects of aerobic training on sex hormone concentrations, research analyzing the fluctuation of sex hormones in response to resistance training (RT) is lacking. The objective of this project is to analyze estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) responses to an acute resistance training session throughout different phases of the menstrual cycle. This proposed research has strong implications for exercise prescription and for women in general, but more importantly will allow exercise physiologists, coaches, personal trainers, or nutritionists optimize exercise programming around women's menstrual cycle.

Official Title
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Acute Effects of Resistance Training on Sex Hormone Concentrations on Different Phases of the Menstrual Cycle

Conditions
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Women's Health

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Resistance Training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Eumenorrheic females Age 18-45 years old BMI of 18.5-34.99 kg/m2 Exclusion Criteria: Practice exercise more than 2 days/week in the last 3 months. Cardiovascular, metabolic, pulmonary or muscular-skeletal condition Taking medications that affect metabolism (e.g. oral contraceptives) Irregular menstrual cycles

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Participants will be blocked (four participants by block) and then randomized to start in one of the four menstrual cycle phases (EFP, LFP, ELP, or LLP). Their will be complete once they have gone through the four phases.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Early Follicular Phase (EFP)<br> | Behavioral: Resistance Training<br>* Participants will exercise at the mid-point of each menstrual cycle phase (EFP- day 4, LFP- day 11, ELP- day 18 and LLP- day 25 for a 28 day menstrual cycle). Training will consist of a warm up. Intensity will be set at 70% of 1RM, and the circuit training will include 7 strength exercises: leg press, rows, back squat, weighted crunches, deadlifts, bench press, and weighted squat jumps. The participant will perform 3 sets f 10 repetitions with 30 seconds of rest<br>|
| Experimental: Late Follicular Phase (LFP)<br> | Behavioral: Resistance Training<br>* Participants will exercise at the mid-point of each menstrual cycle phase (EFP- day 4, LFP- day 11, ELP- day 18 and LLP- day 25 for a 28 day menstrual cycle). Training will consist of a warm up. Intensity will be set at 70% of 1RM, and the circuit training will include 7 strength exercises: leg press, rows, back squat, weighted crunches, deadlifts, bench press, and weighted squat jumps. The participant will perform 3 sets f 10 repetitions with 30 seconds of rest<br>|
| Experimental: Early Luteal Phase (ELP)<br> | Behavioral: Resistance Training<br>* Participants will exercise at the mid-point of each menstrual cycle phase (EFP- day 4, LFP- day 11, ELP- day 18 and LLP- day 25 for a 28 day menstrual cycle). Training will consist of a warm up. Intensity will be set at 70% of 1RM, and the circuit training will include 7 strength exercises: leg press, rows, back squat, weighted crunches, deadlifts, bench press, and weighted squat jumps. The participant will perform 3 sets f 10 repetitions with 30 seconds of rest<br>|
| Experimental: Late Luteal Phase (LLP)<br> | Behavioral: Resistance Training<br>* Participants will exercise at the mid-point of each menstrual cycle phase (EFP- day 4, LFP- day 11, ELP- day 18 and LLP- day 25 for a 28 day menstrual cycle). Training will consist of a warm up. Intensity will be set at 70% of 1RM, and the circuit training will include 7 strength exercises: leg press, rows, back squat, weighted crunches, deadlifts, bench press, and weighted squat jumps. The participant will perform 3 sets f 10 repetitions with 30 seconds of rest<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in estrogen concentrations | Estrogen concentrations will be obtained from blood samples assessed using through ELISA kits | through study completion, an average of 5 weeks | 
| Change in progesterone concentrations | Progesterone concentrations will be obtained from blood samples assessed using through ELISA kits | through study completion, an average of 5 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lean body mass (kg) | Lean body mass (kg) will be assessed through Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry | At baseline: 1 assessment point | 
| Fat mass (kg) | Fat mass (kg) will be assessed through Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry | At baseline: 1 assessment point | 
| Relative body fat (%) | Relative body fat (%) will be assessed through Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry | At baseline: 1 assessment point | 
| Skeletal muscle mass (kg) | Skeletal muscle mass (kg) will be estimated using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry values | At baseline: 1 assessment point | 
| Cardiorespiratory Fitness | Cardiorespiratory Fitness will be assessed with a cardiopulmonary exercise test using the Bruce protocol | At baseline: 1 assessment point | 
| Strength in Bench Press | Maximal strength bench press will be assessed using one repetition maximum test | At baseline: 1 assessment point | 
| Strength in Leg Press | Maximal strength in leg press will be assessed using one repetition maximum test | At baseline: 1 assessment point | 
| Changes in diet | Diet will be assessed using the a 24h dietary recall | through study completion, an average of 5 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Estrogen, Progesterone, Menstrual Cycle, Resistance Training