Conditioning exercise decreases premenstrual symptoms: a prospective, controlled 6-month trial

Fertility and Sterility, 47(3), 402-408

DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)59045-1 PMID 3549364

Abstract

Six months of exercise training was associated with decreased premenstrual symptoms in two groups of women. There was no change in symptoms in nontraining women. Eight sedentary (ST) women increased running from 0 to 76 +/- 26 km/cycle (mean +/- standard deviation) over 6 months and seven runners (MT) trained for a marathon (42.2 km). Six normally active, nontraining (C-NT) women kept their activity constant. Each subject completed monthly intensity-graded questionnaires or kept daily symptoms diaries concerning premenstrual symptoms. All monitored basal body temperature, weight, and exercise. Gonadal steroids were measured in ST women. For ST subjects, breast (P = 0.005), fluid (P = 0.01), and personal stress (P = 0.025) decreased. MT women experienced decreased fluid (P = 0.034) and depression (P = 0.014). Anxiety tended to decrease (P = 0.087). ST and MT subjects experienced decreases in premenstrual symptoms without documented hormonal, menstrual cycle, or weight changes. These symptom changes appear to be the earliest evidence of the effects of conditioning exercise on the reproductive system.

Topics

exercise training premenstrual symptoms reduction, Prior JC conditioning exercise premenstrual syndrome, running exercise PMS prospective controlled trial, aerobic exercise premenstrual breast tenderness fluid retention, marathon training premenstrual depression anxiety, non-pharmacological treatment premenstrual syndrome exercise, Prior Vigna exercise reproductive system effects, sedentary women exercise intervention PMS six month trial, basal body temperature exercise menstrual cycle, premenstrual symptom questionnaire conditioning exercise, exercise hormonal changes menstrual cycle gonadal steroids
PMID 3549364 3549364 DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)59045-1 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)59045-1

Cite this article

Prior, J. C., Vigna, Y., Sciarretta, D., Alojado, N., & Schulzer, M. (1987). Conditioning exercise decreases premenstrual symptoms: a prospective, controlled 6-month trial. *Fertility and sterility*, *47*(3), 402-408. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)59045-1

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