Moderate Aerobic Exercise for Managing Menstrual Cycle Symptoms

  • STATUS
    Recruiting
  • End date
    Aug 25, 2026
  • participants needed
    35
  • sponsor
    University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
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Updated on 25 July 2025

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the impact of moderate aerobic exercise on menstrual symptom management in sedentary women both using and not using hormonal contraceptives. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Is there a reduction in physical and/or psychological menstrual cycle related symptom burden with participation in moderate aerobic exercise for sedentary women using and not using hormonal contraceptives?

Is there a difference in physical and/or psychological menstrual cycle related symptom burden between hormonal contraceptive and non-hormonal contraceptive users?

Is a moderate aerobic exercise intervention more effective in reducing physical and/or psychological menstrual related symptom burden for sedentary women using or not using hormonal contraceptives?

Participants will:

  • Have their body composition assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry pre and post exercise intervention.
  • Complete a Menstrual Symptom Index (MSi) to report daily menstrual cycle related symptom burden in addition to the Premenstrual Symptom Screening Tool (PSST) and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (HMB) questionnaire monthly.
  • Utilize an at-home monitor to test urinary luteinizing hormone, estrone-3-glucuronide, and pregnanediol glucuronide approximately 10 times per month and report menstrual cycle length.
  • Record physical activity habits by continuously wearing a wrist-based accelerometer and chest-strap heart rate monitor during planned aerobic exercise sessions and complete the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) monthly.
  • Maintain their usual sedentary activity habits for one menstrual cycle followed by completion of an exercise intervention designed to progress individuals to meet minimum recommended aerobic physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes per week set by the American College of Sports Medicine for two menstrual cycles.

Details
Condition Premenstrual Syndrome, Menstrual Cycle, Menstrual Distress (Dysmenorrhea), Menstrual Bleeding, Heavy
Age 18years - 40years
Clinical Study IdentifierNCT07084714
SponsorUniversity of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Last Modified on25 July 2025

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