Non-randomised trial, 2003
Does missing one night of sleep affect how your body responds to exercise during your menstrual cycle?
No. One night without sleep did not significantly change how the body responded to exercise during either the follicular or luteal phase. The menstrual cycle phase itself also did not affect exercise responses.
What they did
Researchers tested 9 healthy women aged 24-35 during two cycle phases: the follicular phase (days 11-13) and luteal phase (days 22-24). At each phase, women performed breathing and exercise tests after a normal night's sleep and after a night without sleep. Researchers measured oxygen uptake, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.
What they found
Exercise significantly increased oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, breathing rate, heart rate, blood pressure and related measures at both cycle phases and in both sleep conditions. Neither menstrual cycle phase nor one night of sleep deprivation significantly changed any of these exercise responses.
What it means for you
For healthy women, a single night without sleep does not seem to meaningfully affect how the body handles exercise, even at different points in the menstrual cycle. This is a very small study, so results may not apply widely. The study tested only one night of sleep loss, not chronic sleep deprivation.
9
Women aged 24-35
11-13
Follicular phase days of cycle
22-24
Luteal phase days of cycle
About the study
- Original title
- Cardiorespiratory responses to submaximal incremental exercise are not affected by one night's sleep deprivation during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Kaygisiz Z, Erkasap N, Soydan M
- Journal
- Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- What was tested
- One night of sleep deprivation compared to normal sleep, tested during follicular and luteal phases.
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14723313/
Topics
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