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.
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
Topics
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?