Table 5.

Selection of responses: how hormonal contraceptives (HCs) influence training and/or performance.

Participants' experiences about how HCs influence training and/or performance
Perceived a solely positive influence	Perceived a mixed influence	Perceived a solely negative influence
Influence on training: “I do not have as much pain and heavy bleeding anymore. What's more, I have not been as exhausted or tired as before I started on combined OC, therefore I feel better when training” Influence on performance: “I have no pain and I'm not nauseous on competitions days anymore, feelings that I used to have before” Influence on performance: “Not directly on performance, but due to my previous menstrual problems, hormonal contraception has made it easier for me because I can avoid the negative menstrual symptoms” Influence on training: “I do not have as much menstrual pain with HC, which makes it easier to train and compete” Influence on performance: “HC causes less bleeding and less pain during menstruation, which has a positive effect related to my performance. It is easier to give maximum at competitions when I do not have severe pain. I do not have to take paracetamol before competitions” Influence on training: “To a positive degree, so that I could postpone menstruation until after a competition or reduce pain to perform better without too many distractions” Influence on performance: “I avoid pain, performs better. No need to think about changing sanitary pads/tampons or about bleeding through them” Influence on training: “[I have] slightly less pain than I had without contraception. This makes it easier to complete workouts. In addition, I bleed less. When I used OC, I had no pain or bleeding, but was often in a bad mood” Influence on training: “[I] struggled a lot with menstrual pain before, but after I started on the implant, this has decreased. This means that I am not knocked out when I have my period and can train as normal”	Positive influence on training: “I avoid menstruation, as well as menstrual pain” Positive influence on performance: “To avoid the menstrual cycle which can affect the hormone balance in the body. For example, it prevents me feeling very emotional for some periods, etc., which I can imagine could affect both training and performance” Negative influence on performance: “I do not get the natural answer that my body functions properly as it should during a normal menstrual cycle” Positive influence on training: “Higher iron levels, more stable body and fewer mood swings” Negative influence on training: “Easier to get nauseous” Positive influence on training/performance: “Predictable menstruation and the possibility to postpone it if it does not fit with competitions” Negative influence on training/performance: “Weight gain and irregular bleeding the first couple of months” Negative influence on training: “I can experience menstrual symptoms of pain and intermittent bleeding to varying degrees” Positive influence on performance: “In the period after menstruation, I feel stronger and fresher” Positive influence on training: “I got less bleeding and pain during menstruation when I first started on OC. In recent years no bleeding” Negative influence on training: “No bleeding in recent years has been practical in terms of training and competition performance. However, without (regular) menses, it is more difficult to confirm that I am not pregnant and that I have an adequate energy intake” Positive influence on performance: “No bleeding is practical”	Influence on training: “Somewhat more pain during menstruation” Influence on training: “I have negative experiences with mini-pills, but now when I use an implant, I have some intermittent bleeding and sometimes pain. When I get menstrual cramps, I think it is extra difficult to exercise and I am not always in shape to train” Influence on performance: “The days I have menstrual pain or heavy bleeding are much harder and makes it more difficult to perform optimally” Influence on training: “Irregular menstruation due to IUS. When I used OC, it was regular. What's more, stronger menstrual pain now than with using OC” Influence on performance: “When I used OC, I skipped menstruation a few times to avoid menstruation around important competitions. I cannot control this with IUS, so I think that is a negative point. At the same time, it is now very unpredictable when I will get my period” Influence on training: “Lethargic, and physically heavy. Harder to train. I lose the feeling of being ‘light’ in my body” Influence on performance: “Loses the feeling of being in shape, strong/fast and ‘light’ in my body”