A comparison of methods to predict ovulation day, menstrual cycle characteristics and variability in professional female soccer players

Anderson, R, Rollo, I, Martin, D, Burden, R, Randell, RK, Twist, C and Moss, SL A comparison of methods to predict ovulation day, menstrual cycle characteristics and variability in professional female soccer players. Experimental Physiology. ISSN 0958-0670 (Accepted)

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Abstract

This study aimed to compare three methods of predicting ovulation day: (1) positive urinary luteinising hormone test (LH), (2) sustained rise in salivary progesterone above critical difference (SP), and (3) countback regression equation (CB), to determine variability in the menstrual cycle (MC) lengths and reproductive hormone concentrations of professional female soccer players. Eight players provided daily morning saliva samples for three consecutive cycles. Samples were analysed for oestradiol and progesterone concentrations. Each MC was separated into the follicular (FP) and luteal (LP) phase relative to the day of ovulation, using the three different methods. MC length ranged from 24-32 days (28.3 ± 2.4 days); intra-CV (7.5%) exceeded inter-CV (4.6%). Ovulation estimated using SP (15.4 ± 3.0 days) occurred later than LH (13.3 ± 2.0 days) (p = 0.017). The CB method (14.1 ± 1.8 days) did not differ from SP (p = 0.102) or LH (p = 0.262). Oestradiol and progesterone levels varied significantly between sub-phases (p < 0.001). Inter-variability surpassed intra-variability for both hormones. Differences in methods for predicting ovulation indicate the need for standardised protocols. Individual variation in MC length and hormone concentrations challenge the narrative for group-level MC recommendations, emphasising the need for individualised hormone monitoring across multiple cycles.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	0606 Physiology; 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences; 1116 Medical Physiology; Physiology; 3109 Zoology; 3208 Medical physiology; 4207 Sports science and exercise
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	9 June 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	13 June 2025
Date Deposited:	13 Jun 2025 11:19
Last Modified:	13 Jun 2025 11:30
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26583

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