Prado Raul Cosme Ramos, Oliveira Tamires Nunes, Saunders Bryan, Foster Roberta, Bella Zsuzsanna Ilona Katalin de Jármy Di, Kilpatrick Marcus W, Asano Ricardo Yukio, Hackney Anthony C, Takito Monica Yuri
Department of Pedagogy of Human Movement, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-030, Brazil.
Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group-School of Physical Education and Sport, FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-030, Brazil.
Endocrines. 2025 Mar;6(1). doi: 10.3390/endocrines6010014. Epub 2025 Mar 20.
This study investigated the effects of the menstrual cycle phases on cortisol levels before and after a maximal incremental exercise test in women with and without premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Nineteen healthy, active and eumenorrheic women completed five maximal incremental exercise tests; three of those were performed at specific phases of the menstrual cycle (i.e., menses, follicular, and luteal). The participants were allocated into two groups according to the presence of PMS ( = 11) or absence of PMS (NO-PMS, = 8). Samples of blood were collected before and after each experimental test. A three-way ANOVA was conducted to compare the differences between menstrual cycle phases (i.e., menses, follicular, and luteal), time (before and after) and groups (PMS and NO-PMS).
The results demonstrated an alteration of cortisol across the menstrual cycle, with cortisol levels significantly ( < 0.05) higher during the follicular phase (mean = 11.0 μg/dL, CI95% = 9.1, 12.9) compared to the luteal phase (mean = 8.6 μg/dL, CI95% = 7.2, 10.4) in the PMS and NO-PMS groups. There was no difference ( > 0.05) in cortisol levels for groups or time.
This study observed significant cortisol fluctuations across the menstrual cycle phases in women with and without PMS. Future studies should consider alternative maximal incremental test protocols and incorporate a more comprehensive hormonal profile to provide a deeper physiological understanding of this population.
本研究调查了月经周期各阶段对有和没有经前综合征（PMS）的女性在最大递增运动试验前后皮质醇水平的影响。
19名健康、活跃且月经周期正常的女性完成了五项最大递增运动试验；其中三项在月经周期的特定阶段（即月经期、卵泡期和黄体期）进行。参与者根据是否存在PMS分为两组（PMS组，n = 11；无PMS组，NO - PMS组，n = 8）。在每次实验测试前后采集血样。进行三因素方差分析以比较月经周期阶段（即月经期、卵泡期和黄体期）、时间（运动前和运动后）和组别（PMS组和NO - PMS组）之间的差异。
结果表明，在PMS组和NO - PMS组中，整个月经周期皮质醇水平有变化，卵泡期皮质醇水平显著高于黄体期（P < 0.05），卵泡期平均皮质醇水平为11.0μg/dL（95%置信区间 = 9.1，12.9），黄体期平均皮质醇水平为8.6μg/dL（95%置信区间 = 7.2，10.4）。两组间或不同时间点的皮质醇水平无差异（P > 0.05）。
本研究观察到有和没有PMS的女性在月经周期各阶段皮质醇有显著波动。未来的研究应考虑替代的最大递增测试方案，并纳入更全面的激素谱，以便对该人群有更深入的生理理解。
