Menstrual Cycle-based Periodized TrainingNCT06634134
Cycling Through the Menstrual Cycle
An observational study of Menstrual Cycle-based Periodized Training and Female Athlete Triad, run by Martini Hospital Groningen at 2 sites in Netherlands.
Trial summary
With an increase in number of female athletes in sport events, it is becoming more important to gain insight in female related sports physiology. A main difference between male anf female athletes is the menstrual cycle. During the menstrual cycle, female reproductive hormones fluctuate. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 to 60 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Menstrual Cycle-based Periodized Training, Female Athlete Triad, Menstrual Cycle
- What is being tested?
- Adjusting training advice
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- How many people
- 750 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesNetherlands
- Study dates
- 10 Oct 2024to 1 Jan 2028
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 12 to 60 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Study population: Female JOIN cycling app members that consent with tracking the menstrual cycle.
Who may be able to join
- JOIN cycling app member
- female cyclist
- informed consent period tracking in JOIN
Who cannot join
- none
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Netherlands2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Not yet recruiting
Martini Ziekenhuis
Groningen, 9728 NZ
Anne Marijn van der Graaf, MD/PhD, 0031611474158, annemarijn.graaf@outlook.com
Emma Paternotte, MD
- Recruiting
Martini ziekenhuis
Groningen, 9728 NZ
About this study
Official title: Hoe Fietst de Vrouwelijke Wielrenner Door Haar Menstruatiecyclus?
With an increase in number of female athletes in sport events, it is becoming more important to gain insight in female related sports physiology. A main difference between male anf female athletes is the menstrual cycle. During the menstrual cycle, female reproductive hormones fluctuate. These hormones are also of influence on endurance, recovery, muscle strenght and mental state. Therefore we hypothesize that training efficiancy, power and motivation to train differ during the menstrual cycle. In case there is a pattern seen during the menstrual cycle, training programs can be individualized taking the menstrual cycle into account leading to more effective training programs.
Read the detailed description
More and more women are trying to take their menstrual cycle into account when it comes to training effort, planning and performance. This is called menstrual cycle-based periodized training. However, it is still unknown what the exact influence of the different phases of the menstrual cycle is on training and performance. This includes the influence of hormonal fluctuations during the cycle on training capacity, effort load, restorative capacity, motivation to train and perform, daring to take risks and the mental aspects surrounding training and performance. As a result, general advice about cycle-based periodized training cannot be given at this time.
It has been described in the literature that professional-level cyclists regularly have menstrual cycle disorders (ie RED-s). This has short-term health consequences (less rapid recovery, fatigue) and long-term (osteoporosis, increased risk of cardiovascular disease). At a professional level, this knowledge is slowly penetrating. Less is known about the menstrual cycle of amateur athletes and there is also a lack of knowledge about the effects of the menstrual cycle on performance (endurance capacity, heart rate zones, power achieved).
To gain more insight into the menstrual cycle, the influence of the cycle on training and performance and the influence of training on the cycle of the sporting woman, the aim of this study is to monitor the menstrual cycle of female cyclists in combination with their subjective and objective training parameters. This allows us to create insight and, if useful, adapt training on an individual basis to the phase of the menstrual cycle.
The aim of this research is to investigate how the cyclists' menstrual cycle progresses and whether the cycle has an effect on performance.
- Being tested
- Adjusting training advice
- Keywords
- Menstrual Cycle, Artificial Intelligence, Cycling, Female Athlete Triad, Female Athletes, Menstrual Cycle-based Periodized training
- Medical subject headings
- Female Athlete Triad Syndrome
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Adjusting training adviceBehavioural
Based on discomfort related to the menstrual cycle the female cyclist can choose to adjust the suggested training.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Female cyclist | All female cyclist that consent using the data collected by JOIN cycling app and also give permission tracking thier menstrual cycle.
Natrual menstrual cycle. Hormonal contraceptive use Intra-uterine device use (hormonal vs non-hormonal) Receives: Behavioral: Adjusting training advice |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Health of menstrual cycle in amateur cyclist
It is known that the incidence of amenorrhea is about 15% of the professional female athletes. This has many short- and long term health consequences. These health consequences can be avoided since developing amenorrhea is preventable. It is unknown how many amateur cyclist have an irregular period or have amenorrhea. Insight in the size of this health problem creates a window of opportunity in preventive medicine.
Measured: 1 year
Objective training parameters during the menstral cycle
By collecting details in regards to the menstrual cycle in combination with objective parameters (heart rate, power, speed, endurance) of training it is possible to investigate whether these objective parameters are influenced by the hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle.
Measured: 2 years
Subjective training parameters during the menstrual cycle
By collecting details in regards to the menstrual cycle in combination with subjective parameters (fatigue, discomfort, readiness, motivation) of training it is possible to investigate whether these subjective parameters are influenced by the hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle.
Measured: 2 years
Secondary outcomes (2)
Is menstrual cycle-based periodized training feasible in the future?
In case the menstrual cycle affects objective and subject training parameters, it might be feasible to adjust the training program based on the phase of the menstrual cycle.
Measured: 2 years
Does the menstrual cycle affect recovery?
Improving endurance, muscle strength and power is not only training, but also the quality of recovery. Therefore, it is interesting to investigate whether the hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle affect recovery (i.e. readiness).
Measured: 2 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Oct 2024
- Study start10 Oct 2024
- Primary completion1 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jan 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Menstrual Cycle-based Periodized TrainingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 750 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Martini Hospital Groningen
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Antonius Ziekenhuis, Reinier de Graaf Groep, sportgeneeskunde Friesland, sport medisch centrum tilburg
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06634134
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MenstrualCycling
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 15 Aug 2024
- Last updated
- 28 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Hoe Fietst de Vrouwelijke Wielrenner Door Haar Menstruatiecyclus?
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06634134
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MenstrualCycling
- Keywords
- Menstrual Cycle, Artificial Intelligence, Cycling, Female Athlete Triad, Female Athletes, Menstrual Cycle-based Periodized training
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 750 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Martini Hospital GroningenUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Antonius Ziekenhuis, Reinier de Graaf Groep, sportgeneeskunde Friesland, sport medisch centrum tilburg
- Study start
- 10 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
With an increase in number of female athletes in sport events, it is becoming more important to gain insight in female related sports physiology. A main difference between male anf female athletes is the menstrual cycle. During the menstrual cycle, female reproductive hormones fluctuate. These hormones are also of influence on endurance, recovery, muscle strenght and mental state. Therefore we hypothesize that training efficiancy, power and motivation to train differ during the menstrual cycle. In case there is a pattern seen during the menstrual cycle, training programs can be individualized taking the menstrual cycle into account leading to more effective training programs.
Detailed description
More and more women are trying to take their menstrual cycle into account when it comes to training effort, planning and performance. This is called menstrual cycle-based periodized training. However, it is still unknown what the exact influence of the different phases of the menstrual cycle is on training and performance. This includes the influence of hormonal fluctuations during the cycle on training capacity, effort load, restorative capacity, motivation to train and perform, daring to take risks and the mental aspects surrounding training and performance. As a result, general advice about cycle-based periodized training cannot be given at this time.
It has been described in the literature that professional-level cyclists regularly have menstrual cycle disorders (ie RED-s). This has short-term health consequences (less rapid recovery, fatigue) and long-term (osteoporosis, increased risk of cardiovascular disease). At a professional level, this knowledge is slowly penetrating. Less is known about the menstrual cycle of amateur athletes and there is also a lack of knowledge about the effects of the menstrual cycle on performance (endurance capacity, heart rate zones, power achieved).
To gain more insight into the menstrual cycle, the influence of the cycle on training and performance and the influence of training on the cycle of the sporting woman, the aim of this study is to monitor the menstrual cycle of female cyclists in combination with their subjective and objective training parameters. This allows us to create insight and, if useful, adapt training on an individual basis to the phase of the menstrual cycle.
The aim of this research is to investigate how the cyclists' menstrual cycle progresses and whether the cycle has an effect on performance.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Female cyclist | – | Behavioral: Adjusting training adviceAll female cyclist that consent using the data collected by JOIN cycling app and also give permission tracking thier menstrual cycle. Natrual menstrual cycle. Hormonal contraceptive use Intra-uterine device use (hormonal vs non-hormonal) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 12 to 60 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
- Study population
- Female JOIN cycling app members that consent with tracking the menstrual cycle.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- JOIN cycling app member
- female cyclist
- informed consent period tracking in JOIN
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- none
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusting training adviceBased on discomfort related to the menstrual cycle the female cyclist can choose to adjust the suggested training. | Behavioural | Female cyclist |
Primary outcome
Health of menstrual cycle in amateur cyclist
Time frame: 1 year
It is known that the incidence of amenorrhea is about 15% of the professional female athletes. This has many short- and long term health consequences. These health consequences can be avoided since developing amenorrhea is preventable. It is unknown how many amateur cyclist have an irregular period or have amenorrhea. Insight in the size of this health problem creates a window of opportunity in preventive medicine.
Objective training parameters during the menstral cycle
Time frame: 2 years
By collecting details in regards to the menstrual cycle in combination with objective parameters (heart rate, power, speed, endurance) of training it is possible to investigate whether these objective parameters are influenced by the hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle.
Subjective training parameters during the menstrual cycle
Time frame: 2 years
By collecting details in regards to the menstrual cycle in combination with subjective parameters (fatigue, discomfort, readiness, motivation) of training it is possible to investigate whether these subjective parameters are influenced by the hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle.
2 secondary outcomes
Is menstrual cycle-based periodized training feasible in the future?
Time frame: 2 years
Does the menstrual cycle affect recovery?
Time frame: 2 years
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Jul 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Related trials for Menstrual Cycle-based Periodized Training
Recruiting
Impact of Menstrual Cycle-Based Resistance Training on Neuromuscular Performance in Female Athletes
Menstrual Cycle, Resistance Training
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Menstrual Cycle-based Periodized Training and Female Athlete Triad, run by Martini Hospital Groningen at 2 sites in Netherlands.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Netherlands. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Anne Marijn van der Graaf, MD/PhD (0031611474158, annemarijn.graaf@outlook.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Health of menstrual cycle in amateur cyclist (time frame: 1 year). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Jul 2025.