Comparison of Menstrual Function Among Sprinters, Long Marathon Runners, and Non-Athletic Females

Comparison of Menstrual Function Among Sprinters, Long Marathon Runners, and Non-athletic Females: An Observational Study

The purpose of this study is to compare between sprinters and long marathon in menstrual characteristics and serum estradiol level.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Menstruation Disturbances
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Evaluation of menstrual function

Detailed Description

Menstrual function and dysfunction conversations have long been stigmatized both in the general population and in sport settings (O'Flynn, 2006). However, Discussions of menstruation in the sport context often focuses on the impact of physical menstrual symptoms and dysfunction on activities such as training and sport performance (Bruinvels et al., 2016; Knowles et al., 2019). In addition, no study had been compare between sprinters and long-marathon runners in menstrual characteristics and estradiol level. Therefore, the purpose of this study to compare between sprinters and long marathon in menstrual characteristics and serum estradiol level.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 42

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Doaa Osman; Phone Number: 5792245; Email: Doaa.osman@cu.edu.eg
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Mai Mohamed Ali Shehata; Phone Number: 0 112 653 3836; Email: mai_shehata@cu.edu.eg

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Giza, Egypt
    • Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Egyptian sprinters, long marathon runners, and non-athletic females

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Virginal females.
• Their age ranged from 16 to 19years.
• All females had the same socio-economic status.

For athletic groups only:

• They have been starting the practice of sport at least one year before the onset of menarche.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Females who had been used oral contraceptives or any hormonal treatment in the previous six months.
• Smoking.
• History of chronic disease.
• Having any psychiatric problems.

For athletic groups only:

• injured females who were absent from training for at least three months.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Sprinters	Other: Evaluation of menstrual function; Evaluation of serum estradiol levels and menstrual history characteristics between sprinters, long marathon runners and non-athletes.
Long marathon runners	Other: Evaluation of menstrual function; Evaluation of serum estradiol levels and menstrual history characteristics between sprinters, long marathon runners and non-athletes.
Non-athletic Females	Other: Evaluation of menstrual function; Evaluation of serum estradiol levels and menstrual history characteristics between sprinters, long marathon runners and non-athletes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
serum estradiol level	Blood samples were obtained on the 2nd day of the menstrual cycle at 10.00 a.m. following overnight fasting and rest. The athletic females were instructed to refrain from performing strenuous exercise on the day of sampling. Blood samples were separated and stored at -80°C till analysis of serum estradiol levels. Serum estradiol levels were measured to evaluate the menstrual function. The manufacturer indicated the following reference intervals for healthy females: Estradiol 40-350 pg/ml.	3 months
Menstrual history characteristics	The age at menarche (in years), the number of menstrual cycles in the past year, and the length of menstrual cycles (in days) were collected through a self-administered questionnaire to evaluate the menstrual status of each female participant.	3 months
Age of participation to sport	It was taken in years from each female athlete through a self-administered questionnaire.	3 months
Weekly training workload	It was taken in hours per week from each female athlete through a self-administered questionnaire.	3 months
Training experience	The training experience of the athlete was then calculated by subtracting her age of participation in sport from her chronological age.	3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cairo University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Doaa Osman, Department of Physical Therapy for Woman's Health, Faculty of physical therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 31, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): July 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 26, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 26, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): July 3, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): August 31, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 30, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Menstrual function; Serum estradiol levels; Sprinters; Long Marathon Runners; Non-Athletic Females
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Menstruation Disturbances
• Other Study ID Numbers: P.T.REC/012/004550

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No