Oral Contraceptive Use does not Negatively Affect Body Composition and Strength Adaptations in Trained Women

García, Antonio Miranda; Vargas-Molina, Salvador; Espinar, Sergio; Petro, Jorge L.; Bonilla, Diego A.; Schöenfeld, Brad J.; Kreider, Richard B.; Benítez-Porres, Javier

doi:10.1055/a-0985-4373

Cited by 20 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…In line, a new study conducted on resistance-trained women demonstrated after 8 weeks of resistance training, no significant difference in FFM between OC-users and nonusers. Nevertheless, a significant increase from pre to post was only observed in the young women using OCs (32). Noteworthy, the OC-users in both studies used a mix of OC types (45).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Influence of Second Generation Oral Contraceptive Use on Adaptations to Resistance Training in Young Untrained Women

Dalgaard

Jørgensen

Oxfeldt

et al. 2020

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

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Influence of second generation oral contraceptive use on adaptations to resistance training in young untrained women. J Strength Cond Res 36(7): 1801-1809, 2022-The study purpose was to determine effects of using second generation oral contraceptives (OC) on muscle adaptations to resistance training in young untrained women. Twenty users and 18 nonusers of OC completed a 10-week supervised progressive resistance training program. Before and after the intervention, muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA) of the quadriceps was measured using magnetic resonance imaging and muscle fiber CSA (fCSA) was determined by immunohistochemistry. In addition, body composition (DXA, fat mass/fat-free mass), maximal isometric muscle strength (dynamometry), 5 repetition maximum (5RM) leg press strength, counter movement jump (CMJ) height, and average power using a modified Wingate test were determined. Serum hormone analysis ensured OC compliance and 4-day food records documented dietary intake. After the training period, quadriceps mCSA (OC: 11.0 6 6.0% vs. non-OC: 9.2 6 5.0%, p 5 0.001), type II fCSA (OC: 19.9 6 7.9% vs. non-OC: 16.6 6 7.2%, p 5 0.05), muscle strength (knee extension, knee flexion and 5RM, p , 0.001), and functional power (CMJ, AP, p , 0.001) were significantly increased with no significant difference between the groups. However, a tendency toward a greater increase in fat-free mass (FFM) in the OC group was observed (OC: 3.7 6 3.8% vs. non-OC: 2.7 6 3.5%, p 5 0.08). Collectively, use of second generation OCs in young untrained women did not significantly improve adaptations to 10 weeks of resistance training compared with nonusers. The trend toward greater gains in FFM in the OC group warrant future studies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Influence of Second Generation Oral Contraceptive Use on Adaptations to Resistance Training in Young Untrained Women

Dalgaard

Jørgensen

Oxfeldt

et al. 2020

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

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“…Older research found that COC use altered muscular strength [ 227 , 228 ] and an inhibiting effect on protein synthesis [ 229 ]. More recent papers, however, showed no difference in maximal force-generating capacity, jumping, or hopping with COC use [ 18 , 19 , 31 , 230 ] and did not suggest that COC use affects strength or endurance in response to strength-only or combined strength/endurance training [ 224 , 231 , 232 ]. However, further research is necessary to determine whether COC androgenicity plays a significant role in strength development [ 224 ].…”

Section: Possible Mechanisms: Performance and Health Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Specificities of Elite Female Athletes: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Castanier

Bougault

Jaffré

et al. 2021

Life

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Female athletes have garnered considerable attention in the last few years as more and more women participate in sports events. However, despite the well-known repercussions of female sex hormones, few studies have investigated the specificities of elite female athletes. In this review, we present the current but still limited data on how normal menstrual phases, altered menstrual phases, and hormonal contraception affect both physical and cognitive performances in these elite athletes. To examine the implicated mechanisms, as well as the potential performances and health risks in this population, we then take a broader multidisciplinary approach and report on the causal/reciprocal relationships between hormonal status and mental and physical health in young (18–40 years) healthy females, both trained and untrained. We thus cover the research on both physiological and psychological variables, as well as on the Athlete Biological Passport used for anti-doping purposes. We consider the fairly frequent discrepancies and summarize the current knowledge in this new field of interest. Last, we conclude with some practical guidelines for eliciting improvements in physical and cognitive performance while minimizing the health risks for female athletes.

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“…These findings indicate that OC use does not affect maximal isometric muscle strength, which is consistent with the findings of Nichols et al that OC use does not negatively affect muscle strength gains after a 12-week free-weight strength training program because it prevents fluctuations in other anabolic hormones during the menstrual cycle [ 50 ]. Romance et al [ 51 ] analyzed the influence of OC use on strength after 8 weeks of resistance training and found no differences in muscle strength gains between their non-OC and OC groups. Furthermore, Wikstrom-Frisen et al found no significant differences in strength, squat jump ability, or isokinetic peak torque between women who used OCs and those who did not [ 52 ], while Nichols et al found no differences in isokinetic torque and maximum strength gain between female student athletes who used OCs and those who did not [ 22 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of oral contraceptive use on muscle strength, muscle thickness, and fiber size and composition in young women undergoing 12 weeks of strength training: a cohort study

et al. 2022

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Background It is suspected that hormonal fluctuations during menstruation may cause different responses to strength training in women who use oral contraceptives (OC) versus those who do not. However, previous studies that investigated the existence of such differences produced conflicting results. In this study, we hypothesized that OC use has no effect on muscle strength and hypertrophy among women undergoing strength training. Thus, we compared the differences in muscle strength and thickness among women who used OCs and those who did not. Methods We investigated the influence of OC use on muscle strength (Fmax), muscle thickness (Mtk), type 1-to-type 2 muscle fiber (NO) ratio, muscle fiber thickness (MFT), and nuclear-to-fiber (N/F) ratio. Seventy-four healthy young women (including 34 who used OCs and 40 who did not) underwent 12 weeks of submaximal strength training, after which Fmax was evaluated using a leg-press machine with a combined force and load cell, while Mtk was measured using real-time ultrasonography. Moreover, the NO ratio, MFT, and N/F ratio were evaluated using muscle needle biopsies. Results Participants in the non-OC and OC groups experienced increases in Fmax (+ 23.30 ± 10.82 kg and + 28.02 ± 11.50 kg respectively, p = 0.073), Mtk (+ 0.48 ± 0.47 cm2 and + 0.50 ± 0.44 cm2 respectively, p = 0.888), Fmax/Mtk (+ 2.78 ± 1.93 kg/cm2 and + 3.32 ± 2.37 kg/cm2 respectively, p = 0.285), NO ratio (type 2 fibers: + 1.86 ± 6.49% and − 4.17 ± 9.48% respectively, p = 0.169), MFT (type 2 fibers: + 7.15 ± 7.50 µm and + 4.07 ± 9.30 µm respectively, p = 0.435), and N/F ratio (+ 0.61 ± 1.02 and + 0.15 ± 0.97 respectively, p = 0.866) after training. There were no significant differences between the non-OC and OC groups in any of these parameters (p > 0.05). Conclusions The effects of 12 weeks of strength training on Fmax, muscle thickness, muscle fiber size, and composition were similar in young women irrespective of their OC use.

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Oral Contraceptive Use does not Negatively Affect Body Composition and Strength Adaptations in Trained Women

Cited by 20 publications

References 35 publications

Influence of Second Generation Oral Contraceptive Use on Adaptations to Resistance Training in Young Untrained Women

Influence of Second Generation Oral Contraceptive Use on Adaptations to Resistance Training in Young Untrained Women

The Specificities of Elite Female Athletes: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Effects of oral contraceptive use on muscle strength, muscle thickness, and fiber size and composition in young women undergoing 12 weeks of strength training: a cohort study

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