Aim: The purpose of this project was to compare the impact of the menstrual cycle on short-term, high intensity (power) performance in active females who either had normal menstrual cycles (NOC) or who were using oral contraceptives (OC). Methods: Subjects (7 NOC, 17 OC) completed a Margaria-Kalamen staircase test and a Wingate cycle test on 3 occasions: one for familiarization and the other two trials (random order) during menses (MEN) or luteal (LUT) phase. Phase was documented by urinary luteinizing hormone for the NOC. Results: There were no significant differences between MEN and LUT in the NOC group on the Wingate test (n=7) for any of the following: peak power (P=0.33), peak power per kg body weight (P=0.37), anaerobic capacity (P=0.37), anaerobic capacity per kg body weight (P=0.42), power decline (P=0.36), power decline per kg body weight (P=0.35). Also there were no significant differences in power (P=0.95) for the Margaria-Kalamen test (n=6). There were no significant differences between MEN and LUT in the OC group for any of the following variables calculated from the subjects' performance on the Wingate test (n=17): peak power (P=0.39), peak power per kg body weight (P=0.36), anaerobic capacity (P=0.42), anaerobic capacity per kg body weight (P=0.36), power decline (P=0.57), power decline per kg body weight (P=0.66). Also there were no significant differences in power (P=0.44) for the Margaria-Kalamen test (n=11). Conclusion: For a moderately active group of women, anaerobic power performance was not influenced by menstrual cycle phase in either NOC or OC users.
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