Influence of a physical fitness course on menstrual cycle characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
Exercise is commonly cited as a remedy for menstrual symptoms. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a period of exercise on physical and psychological symptoms of menstruation, dysmenorrhea, oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea.


METHODS
Participants of the study were 250 students of Shiraz University who enrolled in a fitness course. The study design was semi-experimental with one group. Prior and after 12 weeks of a physical fitness program, our subjects completed questionnaires on menstrual distress. The physical fitness training program included physical fitness exercises (cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, agility, speed, strength; duration: 90 min, frequency: twice weekly, intensity: 50 to 70% of maximum heart rate). The t test was used for analysis of the data.


RESULTS
Physical premenstrual symptoms (p = 0.005), psychological premenstrual symptoms (p = 0.019), dysmenorrhea (p = 0.0001) and oligomenorrhea (p = 0.034) were significantly reduced after the training program. There was no difference in the incidence of amenorrhea before and after the training program (p = 0.162).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that selected physical fitness exercises positively influenced menstrual symptoms.
Jahromi
Maryam Koushkie
MK
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, College of Education and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran. koushkie53@yahoo.com
Gaeini
Abbasali
A
Rahimi
Zahra
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000628:therapy*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D013334:Students; D055815:Young Adult