Aim: To examine the effects of administration of monophasic oral contraceptive (OC) on the body composition and aerobic and anaerobic capacities of female athletes.
Methods: Ten female athletes (23.0 ± 4.1 years old) participated in this study. All the subjects were examined during the menstrual cycle (early follicular [EF], middle luteal [ML]) and OC cycle (inactive OC, and active OC phases). After the menstrual cycle measurements, all the subjects began taking OC. The athletes tested using a body composition, circumferences, the lactate curve test, the maximal oxygen consumption test, and the Wingate test during all phases.
Results: Waist circumference was lower during the OC cycle than menstrual cycle (P < 0.05), and the other circumferences of parts were not different during the menstrual or OC cycles. However, there were no differences in body composition before and after taking OC. The phase of the menstrual or OC cycle did not affect maximal oxygen consumption, heart rate max or power output at a blood lactate concentration of 2 and 4 mmol/L between the menstrual and OC cycle phases. Although, the peak blood lactate level after the Wingate test was higher during the OC cycle (inactive OC phase, 13.0 ± 2.4 mmol/L; active OC phase, 12.4 ± 3.0 mmol/L) than during the menstrual cycle (EF phase, 11.9 ± 2.1 mmol/L; ML phase, 11.4 ± 2.1 mmol/L; P < 0.05), the peak and average power in the Wingate test did not change during the menstrual and OC cycle phases.
Conclusion: Administration of monophasic OC did not affect the body composition or aerobic and anaerobic capacities of female athletes.
Keywords: exercise performance; exogenous hormone; female athletes; low-dose; monophasic.
© 2020 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.