"How Does Menstruation Affect My Muscle Performance?" - Claire Maldarelli
Surprisingly, little is known about the effects that natural hormonal fluctuations have on muscle performance when working out. “I think a subset of women will say that they don’t feel as well right before they get their menses, and that certainly can affect athletic performance,” said Andrea Dunaif, MD, Chief of the Hilda and J. Lester Gabrilove division of endocrinology, diabetes, and bone disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Subsets of women get premenstrual syndrome during their cycles from the effects of progesterone, including symptoms of weight gain and breast tenderness as well as irritability and mood changes. That could theoretically affect athletic performance from more of a motivational standpoint.” It’s recommended that females speak to their doctors, who can suggest changes to ensure athletic performance remains at its best.
— Andrea Dunaif, MD, Chief, Hilda and J. Lester Gabrilove Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Mount Sinai Health System