Table 1.

Details and findings of studies on the effect of the menstrual cycle on perceived performance in athletes.

1st Author (Year)	Study Design	Participants	Main Findings
Armour (2020) [72]	Cross-sectional	Athletes from various sports and competitive levels (n = 124), including non-HC users (n = 72)	50% of participants perceived training and 56.5% perceived competition was negatively affected in some MC phases. Some participants perceived some MC phases to have a positive effect on training (6.4%) and competition (<1%). Performance was most commonly reported to be affected in the EF and LL.
Ergin (2020) [73]	Cross-sectional	Elite volleyball athletes (n = 130)	84.6% of participants reported “sport-related menstrual problems” and 70.8% reported menstruation has affected their participation in training and competition in the EF.
Findlay (2020) [74]	Semi-structured interview	International rugby players (n = 15), including non-HC users (n = 11)	Majority of participants cited training (>66%) and competition (>50%) was negatively affected by the MC, particularly during the EF.
Jacobson (1999) [75]	Longitudinal	Collegiate athletes (n = 6)	Perceived strength and speed were, on average, significantly worse during the ML and LL. Perceived power was also, on average, significantly worse in both EF, ML and LL.
Solli (2020) [76]	Cross-sectional	Elite cross-country skiers and biathletes (n = 140), including non-HC users (n = 62)	51% and 71% of participants perceived training quality was positively and negatively affected by MC phase, respectively. 41% and 49% perceived competitive performance was positively and negatively affected by MCP, respectively. Performance was perceived to be worst during the EF.

n = sample size; MC = menstrual cycle; MCP = menstrual cycle phase; HC = hormonal contraceptive; EF = early follicular phase; LL = late luteal phase; ML = mid luteal phase.