New Insights Reveal How Menstrual Cycles Affect Exercise Patterns in Women

New Insights from the Apple Women’s Health Study

In a recent update, researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences shared new findings from the Apple Women’s Health Study. The study, launched in 2019, has been tracking exercise patterns among over 110,000 participants based on their menstrual cycles.

Key Findings:

• Top Exercises: Walking, cycling, running, functional strength training, and yoga were the most popular activities.
• Exercise Duration:
  • Participants with regular cycles exercised for an average of 20.6 minutes per day.
  • Those with irregular cycles exercised for about 18.6 minutes per day.
• Cycle Phases: The median daily exercise time was 21 minutes during the follicular phase and 20.9 minutes during the luteal phase, showing minimal variation across menstrual cycle phases.

Expert Opinion:

Dr. Shruthi Mahalingaiah, principal investigator of the study, emphasized that regular exercise can positively impact hormonal health, improving mood and energy levels in the short term and reducing long-term health risks. She advised patients to find an enjoyable and consistent exercise routine that they can maintain over their lifetime.