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The effects of oral contraceptives on exercise performance in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Elliott-Sale, Kirsty J.; McNulty, Kelly L.; Ansdell, Paul; Goodall, Stuart; Hicks, Kirsty M.; Thomas, Kevin; Swinton, Paul A.; Dolan, Eimear

Authors

Kirsty J. Elliott-Sale

Kelly L. McNulty

Paul Ansdell

Stuart Goodall

Kirsty M. Hicks

Kevin Thomas

Eimear Dolan



Abstract

Background: Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are double agents, which downregulate endogenous concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone whilst simultaneously providing daily supplementation of exogenous oestrogen and progestin during the OCP-taking days. This altered hormonal milieu differs significantly from that of eumenorrheic women and might impact exercise performance, due to changes in ovarian hormone-mediated physiological processes. Objective: To explore the effects of OCPs on exercise performance in women and to provide evidence-based performance recommendations to users. Methods: This review complied with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A between-group analysis was performed, wherein performance of OCP users was compared with naturally menstruating women, and a within-group analysis was conducted, wherein performance during OCP consumption was compared with OCP withdrawal. For the between-group analysis, women were phase matched in two ways: (1) OCP withdrawal versus the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and (2) OCP consumption versus all phases of the menstrual cycle except for the early follicular phase. Study quality was assessed using a modified Downs and Black Checklist and a strategy based on the recommendations of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation working group. All meta-analyses were conducted within a Bayesian framework to facilitate probabilistic interpretations. Results: 42 studies and 590 participants were included. Most studies (83%) were graded as moderate, low or very low quality, with 17% achieving high quality. For the between-group meta-analysis comparing OCP users with naturally menstruating women, posterior estimates of the pooled effect were used to calculate the probability of at least a small effect (d ≥ 0.2). Across the two between-group comparison methods, the probability of a small effect on performance favouring habitual OCP users was effectually zero (p < 0.001). In contrast, the probability of a small effect on performance favouring naturally menstruating women was moderate under comparison method (1) (d ≥ 0.2; p = 0.40) and small under comparison method (2) (d ≥ 0.2; p = 0.19). Relatively large between-study variance was identified for both between-group comparisons (τ0.5 = 0.16 [95% credible interval (CrI) 0.01–0.44] and τ0.5 = 0.22 [95% CrI 0.06–0.45]). For the within-group analysis comparing OCP consumption with withdrawal, posterior estimates of the pooled effect size identified almost zero probability of a small effect on performance in either direction (d ≥ 0.2; p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: OCP use might result in slightly inferior exercise performance on average when compared to naturally menstruating women, although any group-level effect is most likely to be trivial. Practically, as effects tended to be trivial and variable across studies, the current evidence does not warrant general guidance on OCP use compared with non-use. Therefore, when exercise performance is a priority, an individualised approach might be more appropriate. The analysis also indicated that exercise performance was consistent across the OCP cycle.

Citation

ELLIOTT-SALE, K.J., MCNULTY, K.L., ANSDELL, P., GOODALL, S., HICKS, K.M. THOMAS, K., SWINTON, P.A. and DOLAN, E. 2020. The effects of oral contraceptives on exercise performance in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports medicine [online], 50(10), pages 1785-1812. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01317-5

Journal Article Type Review
Acceptance Date Jun 30, 2020
Online Publication Date Jul 14, 2020
Publication Date Oct 31, 2020
Deposit Date Jul 2, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Sports medicine
Print ISSN 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN 1179-2035
Publisher Springer
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 50
Issue 10
Pages 1785-1812
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01317-5
Keywords Menstrual cycle; Oral contraceptive pill; OCP; Exercise performance; Sportswomen
Public URL https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/941008
Related Public URLs https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/940959

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