--- title: Does the menstrual cycle affect women's ability to train and compete? description: Yes. Women who experienced more frequent menstrual symptoms were significantly more likely to miss or change their training, miss competitions, miss work or s url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-and-frequency-of-menstrual-cycle-symptoms-are-associated-with-2021/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the menstrual cycle affect women's ability to train and compete? Survey study, 2021 # Does the menstrual cycle affect women's ability to train and compete? Yes. Women who experienced more frequent menstrual symptoms were significantly more likely to miss or change their training, miss competitions, miss work or school, and use pain medication. Moderate study design 6812 exercising women from seven countries, not using hormonal contraception, mean age 38.3 years ## What they did Researchers surveyed 6812 exercising women from seven countries using the Strava fitness app. Participants answered 39 questions about menstrual symptoms during different phases of their cycle, how often they experienced them, and how menstruation affected their training and work. ## What they found The most common menstrual cycle symptoms were mood changes or anxiety (90.6%), tiredness or fatigue (86.2%), stomach cramps (84.2%), and breast pain or tenderness (83.1%). Women who reported more frequent symptoms were more likely to skip or change training, miss sporting events, miss work or academic activities, and use pain medication. ## What it means for you Menstrual cycle symptoms are very common in women who exercise regularly and genuinely interfere with their ability to train and work. Because the study was observational, we cannot be certain that menstrual symptoms cause the missed training, or whether other factors are involved. 90.6% with mood changes or anxiety 86.2% with tiredness or fatigue 84.2% with stomach cramps ## About the study Original title Prevalence and frequency of menstrual cycle symptoms are associated with availability to train and compete: a study of 6812 exercising women recruited using the Strava exercise app Authors Bruinvels G, Goldsmith E, Blagrove R et al. Journal British journal of sports medicine Year 2021 Study design Survey study Participants 1,542 What was tested None. The study observed naturally occurring menstrual symptoms rather than testing a treatment. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102792](https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102792) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Mood swings and emotion regulation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-emotional-regulation/)[Fatigue and energy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-fatigue/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Apps and digital interventions](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-digital-health/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Study, 2025 Do women have different symptom patterns before, during, and after menopause? Survey study, 2022 How common are premenstrual symptoms, and do they change with age? Survey study, 2016 Do hormonal contraceptives reduce PMS symptoms? Survey study, 1982 How common are premenstrual symptoms in American women, and what factors affect them? Survey study, 2026 Can changing your diet help with period and PMS symptoms like fatigue, mood swings and bloating? Randomised trial, 2026 What types and amounts of exercise help or harm PMS? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗