The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of menstrual cycle phase on ventilatory threshold(VT)and physiological responses to exercise. Ten university female students (age 21.7±1.6 yrs, height 164.4±4.3 cm, weight 53.0±5.0 kg)with eumenorrheic menstrual cycle were recruited for this study. Incremental cycle ergometer exercise tests were performed at the mid-follicular (FP)and mid-luteal(LP)phases in the menstrual cycle (confirmed by basal body temperature and progesterone hormone level).Ventilation(VE),oxygen consumption(VO2)and heart rate were monitored throughout the exercise test. The blood samples of lactate acid(LA),progesterone were collected before and 5 minutes after exercise test.The VT was determined by systematic increase in ventilatory equivalent for O2 with no change in the ventilatory equivalent for CO2. VEmax, VO2max, LAmax,HRmax and time to exhaustion did not show significant difference during LP and FP. For the 100 watts submaximal exercise intensities, the VE during LP(36.6±6.89 l/min)was significantly higher (p<.05)than during FP(33.1±4.91 l/min),the VO2 during LP(25.34±3.18 ml/kg/min)was significantly higher(p<.05)than during FP(23.9±2.83 ml/kg/min).For the 125 watts submaximal exercise intensities, the VE during LP(44.2±7.98 l/min) was significantly higher(p<.05)than during FP(40.1±7.54 l/min).The VT during LP(73.4±4.67%VO2max)was significantly lower(p<.05)than during FP(75.8±3.98 %VO2max; p<.05).These results indicate that menstrual cycle phase should be considered when utilize female subjects in ventilatory and oxygen consumption related studies.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of menstrual cycle phase on ventilatory threshold(VT)and physiological responses to exercise. Ten university female students (age 21.7±1.6 yrs, height 164.4±4.3 cm, weight 53.0±5.0 kg)with eumenorrheic menstrual cycle were recruited for this study. Incremental cycle ergometer exercise tests were performed at the mid-follicular (FP)and mid-luteal(LP)phases in the menstrual cycle (confirmed by basal body temperature and progesterone hormone level).Ventilation(VE),oxygen consumption(VO2)and heart rate were monitored throughout the exercise test. The blood samples of lactate acid(LA),progesterone were collected before and 5 minutes after exercise test.The VT was determined by systematic increase in ventilatory equivalent for O2 with no change in the ventilatory equivalent for CO2. VEmax, VO2max, LAmax,HRmax and time to exhaustion did not show significant difference during LP and FP. For the 100 watts submaximal exercise intensities, the VE during LP(36.6±6.89 l/min)was significantly higher (p<.05)than during FP(33.1±4.91 l/min),the VO2 during LP(25.34±3.18 ml/kg/min)was significantly higher(p<.05)than during FP(23.9±2.83 ml/kg/min).For the 125 watts submaximal exercise intensities, the VE during LP(44.2±7.98 l/min) was significantly higher(p<.05)than during FP(40.1±7.54 l/min).The VT during LP(73.4±4.67%VO2max)was significantly lower(p<.05)than during FP(75.8±3.98 %VO2max; p<.05).These results indicate that menstrual cycle phase should be considered when utilize female subjects in ventilatory and oxygen consumption related studies.