The Impact of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome on a Female Athlete’s Performance and Overall Health
by Avery Dravis-Stark, Winnie Victor, Caitlin Finn, and Christopher Brian Taber, MS, CSCS
NSCA Coach
March 2022
Vol 8, Issue 4
This article serves to educate strength and conditioning coaches on the influence exercise can have on the various hormonal pathways that are impacted by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), including insulin resistance, cortisol, testosterone, follicle-stimulating, and luteinizing hormones.
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This article originally appeared in NSCA Coach, a quarterly publication for NSCA Members that provides valuable takeaways for every level of strength and conditioning coach. You can find scientifically based articles specific to a wide variety of your athletes’ needs with Nutrition, Programming, and Youth columns. Read more articles from NSCA Coach »
References
1. Alnakash, A, and Al-Tae’e, NK. Polycystic ovarian syndrome: The correlation between the LH/FSH ratio and disease manifestations. Middle East Fertility Society Journal 12: 35-40, 2007.
2. Cicek, G, Gorkem, U, Yamaner, F, Gullu, A, and Gullu, E. Adverse effect of different exercise types on ovarian reserve. Journal of Education and Training Studies 7(1) 115, 2019.
3. Eliakim, A, Marom, N, Galitskaya, L, and Nemet, D. Hyperandrogenism among elite adolescent female athletes. Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism 23(8): 124, 2010.
4. Faryadian, B, Tadibi, V, and Behpour, N. Effect of 12-week high intensity interval training program on c-reactive protein and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (13)9: 1-4, 2019.
5. Fruth, SJ, and Worrell, TW. Factors associated with menstrual irregularities and decreased bone mineral density in female athletes. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 22(1): 26-38, 1995.
6. Hirschberg, AL. Female hyperandrogenism and elite sport. Endocrine Connections 9(4): R81–R92, 2020.
7. Hutchison, S, Stepto, N, Harrison, C, and Moran, L. Effects of exercise on insulin resistance and body composition in overweight and obese women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 96(1): 48-56, 2010.
8. Kahlil, N, Kareem, H, Badr, N, and El-Shamy. The effect of exercise on insulin resistance in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Egyptian Society of Internal Medicine 26(3): 110, 2014.
9. Krishnan, A, and Muthusami, S. Hormonal alterations in PCOS and its influence on bone metabolism. Journal of Endocrinology 232, 2016.
10. La Vignera, S, Condorelli, R, Cannarella, C, Duca, Y, and Calogero, A. Sport, doping and female fertility. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 16(1): 108, 2018.
11. Otağ, A, Hazar, M, Otağ, İ, and Beyleroğlu, M. Effect of increasing maximal aerobic exercise on serum gonadal hormones and alpha-fetoprotein in the luteal phase of professional female soccer players. Journal of Physical Therapy Science 28(3): 807-810, 2016.
12. Sprung, VS, Cuthbertson, DJ, Pugh, CJA, Aziz, N, Kemp, GJ, Daousi, C, et al. Exercise training in polycystic ovarian syndrome enhances flow-mediated dilation in the absence of changes in fatness. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 45(12): 2234-2242, 2013.
13. Thomson, RL, Buckley, JD, and Brinkworth, GD. Perceived exercise barriers are reduced and benefits are improved with lifestyle modification in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomised controlled trial. BMC Women’s Health 16(1): 14, 2016.
14. Vignera, S, Condorelli, R, Cannarella, R, Duca, Y, and Calogero, A. Sport doping and female fertility. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 108, 2018.
15. Yang, J, Peek-Asa, C, Corlette, JD, Cheng, G, Foster, DT, and Albright, J. Prevalence of and risk factors associated with symptoms of depression in competitive collegiate student athletes. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine 17(6): 481-487, 2007.
16. Brooks, G, Fahey, T, and Baldwin, K. Exercise Physiology: Human Bioenergetics and its Applications, 4th edition. McGraw-Hill; 2004.
17. Haff, G, Triplett, NT, and National Strength and Conditioning Association. Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th edition. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2016.
18. McBryde, AM. Stress fractures in runners. Orthopedics 5(7): 913-928, 1982.
19. Shaobing, W, Zhenghong, Z, and Yiping, L. Effects of exercise intervention on the improvement of polycystic ovary syndrome. IntechOpen. September 19, 2019. Retrieved April 2021 from https:// www.intechopen.com/chapters/68692.
20. Kalanick, B. How to modify exercises for PCOS hormones. Retrieved April 2021 from www.betterbydrbrooke.com. 21. PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 2021 from https:// www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/pcos.html.
Available to:
Members only
Members only
Audience:
Coaches
Coaches
Topics:
Exercise Science Basic Pathophysiology and Science of Health Status or Condition and Disorder or Disease
Exercise Science Basic Pathophysiology and Science of Health Status or Condition and Disorder or Disease
