Purpose: To examine the relationship between menstrual cycle (MC) phase-dependent fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone and virtual cycling race performance, with a secondary aim of correlating perceived MC-related symptoms with performance.Methods: In a novel observational study design, thirty-seven female cyclists/triathletes not using any hormonal contraception completed one virtual cycling race [19.5 km time trial (TT)] per week across a one-month period (totaling four races). Participants completed MC characterization and tracking, including urinary ovulation kits, across two complete MCs. Venous blood samples were collected within 21 h of racing to determine serum 17-β-estradiol and progesterone concentrations, as well as an assessment of self-reported, perceived race-day MC and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, which were all then correlated to race performance.Results: There was no relationship between race completion time and individual estradiol (r = -0.001, p = 0.992) or progesterone (r = -0.023, p = 0.833) concentrations. There was no difference between race time between MC phases (follicular/luteal, p = 0.238), whether MC bleeding or not bleeding (p = 0.619) and ovulating or not ovulating (p = 0.423). The total number of perceived MC symptoms recorded on race day was positively correlated to increased race time [r = 0.268 (95% CI 0.056 to 0.457), p = 0.014], as was the number of GI symptoms of at least "moderate" severity before the race (r = 0.233 [95% CI 0.021 to 0.425], p = 0.031), but not post-race (r = 0.022, p = 0.841).Conclusions: When implementing a novel, virtual cycling race, fluctuations in ovarian hormone concentrations across the MC do not appear to affect real-world cycling performance among trained cyclists, while perceived negative MC and GI symptoms may relate to impaired performance. Therefore, the management of negative MC and GI symptoms appears important for athletic performance enhancement or to mitigate performance decline.

中文翻译：

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感知到的负面月经周期症状，但雌激素或孕激素的变化没有变化，与自行车比赛表现受损有关。


目的：检查月经周期 （MC） 雌激素和孕激素的相位依赖性波动与虚拟自行车比赛表现之间的关系，次要目的是将感知到的 MC 相关症状与表现相关联。方法：在一项新颖的观察性研究设计中，37 名未使用任何激素避孕药的女性自行车手/铁人三项运动员在一个月内每周完成一场虚拟自行车比赛 [19.5 公里计时赛 （TT）]（共四场比赛）。参与者在两个完整的 MC 中完成了 MC 表征和跟踪，包括尿排卵试剂盒。在比赛后 21 小时内收集静脉血样，以确定血清 17-β-雌二醇和孕激素浓度，以及评估自我报告的、感知的比赛日 MC 和胃肠道 （GI） 症状，这些都与比赛表现相关。结果：比赛完成时间与个体雌二醇 （r = -0.001， p = 0.992） 或孕酮 （r = -0.023， p = 0.833） 浓度之间没有关系。MC 期 （卵泡/黄体，p = 0.238） 之间的比赛时间、MC 出血与否 （p = 0.619） 和排卵或不排卵 （p = 0.423） 之间没有差异。比赛当天记录的感知 MC 症状总数与比赛时间增加呈正相关 [r = 0.268 （95% CI 0.056 至 0.457），p = 0.014]，赛前至少“中度”严重程度的胃肠道症状数量也呈正相关 （r = 0.233 [95% CI 0.021 至 0.425]，p = 0.031），但赛后没有 （r = 0.022， p = 0.841）。结论：在实施一项新颖的虚拟自行车比赛时，MC 中卵巢激素浓度的波动似乎不会影响训练有素的自行车手在现实世界中的骑行表现，而感知到的负面 MC 和 GI 症状可能与表现受损有关。因此，阴性 MC 和 GI 症状的管理对于提高运动表现或减轻表现下降似乎很重要。