Psychophysiological Responses to Self-Selected Exercise Intensity Over the Menstrual Cycle: A Randomized Crossover Phase Trial

Purpose: This study investigated the psychophysiological responses during self-selected exercise intensity over the course of the menstrual cycle (MC). Methods: Seventeen healthy women with regular MCs completed three randomized treadmill bouts of 30 min of self-selected exercise intensity during menstruation, mid-follicular, and late luteal phases. Anxiety, menstrual distress (i.e., pain, behavior change, autonomic reaction, fluid retention, and negative affect) and profile of mood (i.e., tension, depression, and anger) were measured before exercise. Arousal, heart rate (HR), motivation, rating of perceived exertion and affective valence were measured before, during and after each exercise session. Results: Anger, anxiety, behavior change, pain, and negative affect were significantly greater (p < .05) during menstruation compared to the mid-follicular phase, whereas fluid retention, anger, behavior change, and autonomic reaction were greater (p < .05) during the late luteal phase compared with the mid-follicular phase. Participants felt more negative affective valence and less motivation to start exercise during menstruation compared with other MC phases. Average treadmill speed (5.8 +/- 1.1 vs 6.0 +/- 0.7 vs 5.9 +/- 0.7 km/h(-1), p = .36) and %HRmax (74.9 +/- 3.2 vs 77.8 +/- 5.4 vs 77.4 +/- 7.1%, p = .40) did not differ between menstruation, mid-follicular, and late luteal phases. Also, noteworthy is that participants self-selected an intensity that exceeded the minimum levels recommended for health and cardiorespiratory fitness promotion (64-70% HRmax). Conclusions: Results of this study indicate that psychophysiological responses are negatively impacted mainly during menstruation and the late luteal phase of the MC. These findings may be helpful for professionals who work to promote the initiation and maintenance of exercise in women.