Moderate Aerobic Exercise for Managing Menstrual Cycle Symptoms

Part of paid clinical trials in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Sponsor
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Study ID
NCT07084714
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Menstrual Bleeding, Heavy
  • Menstrual Cycle
  • Menstrual Distress (Dysmenorrhea)
  • Premenstrual Syndrome

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
FEMALE
Age
18 Years - 40 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Moderate Aerobic Exercise — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants will complete moderate intensity aerobic exercise for 30 minutes per session, progressing from three to five days per week to meet the minimum recommended aerobic physical activity guideline of 150 minutes per week set by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) over two menstrual cycles. Moderate intensity is defined as maintaining a heart rate within 40-59% heart rate reserve and a rate of perceived exertion of 11-14 "light to somewhat hard" on the Borg 6-20 scale.

Study Details

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.

Key Dates

Start date
Jul 31, 2025
Status verified
Jul 2025
Primary completion
Aug 31, 2026
Completion
Aug 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
35 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Non-hormonal contraceptive users
    Women who report regular menstrual periods every 21-35 days and have not used hormonal or non-hormonal (i.e., intrauterine device) contraceptives in the past 6 months.
  • Experimental: Hormonal contraceptive users
    Women who are taking a combined oral contraceptive (i.e., those that contain a form of progesterone and estrogen) for at least the past 6 months.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change from baseline in Menstrual Symptom Index (MSi) scores [ Time Frame: Baseline, 1 month, and 2 months ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance CenterColorado SpringsColorado80918-

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William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center· Colorado Springs, CO

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