Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41234215›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in sports and active living2025

Characteristics of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive use in elite Spanish basketball players.

Pilar Crespo, Nuria Herranz, Víctor Estella, Esther Morencos, María Herranz, Gil Rodas

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in sports and active living, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Pilar CrespoHelse Fisioterapia, Zaragoza, Spain.
Nuria HerranzMedical Services, Spanish Basketball Federation, Madrid, Spain.
Víctor EstellaHelse Fisioterapia, Zaragoza, Spain.
Esther MorencosExercise Physiology Group, Exercise and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, Spain.
María HerranzPreventive Medicine Service, Hospital Alvaro Cunqueiro, Vigo, Spain.
Gil RodasSports and Exercise Medicine Unit, Hospital Clinic y San Joan de Dèu, Barcelona, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Previous research has shown how menstrual-related symptoms (e.g., abdominal cramps, tiredness/fatigue) can limit athletes' ability to train. Nonetheless, the specific characteristics of the menstrual cycle (MC) and their relationship with performance, well-being, and injuries in athletes are not well understood. This cross-sectional study aimed to better understand the characteristics of the MC (menarche, length, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, etc.) and the use of hormonal contraceptives among the elite Spanish basketball players. Methods: A total of 228 healthy elite female basketball players from both first division and second division of the Spanish league were included in this cross-sectional study. Subjects were assessed for MC characteristics using a validated questionnaire. Results: The menarche age in the study population was 13.21 ± 1.55 years. The majority of players (78.51%) experienced a regular MC of 27.69 ± 3.78 days, with a range from 17 to 40 days. One hundred ninety-eight out of the 228 players surveyed (86.84%) experienced dysmenorrhea during their periods, and 41.67% took pain medication. Moreover, 77.63% of the players showed symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Amenorrhea was also reported by 22.81% of them, and 3.51% of the players had been pregnant at some point in their lives. No statistically significant differences were observed when comparing the characteristics of the MC between first and second division players. Less than a quarter of the studied population referred using hormonal contraceptives regularly. Conclusion: MC alterations are prevalent among female basketball players. More research is necessary to understand how this can affect the quality of life, the performance, and the injury susceptibility of female athletes.

Indexed as

hormonal contraceptivesmenstrual cyclemenstrual symptomspremenstrual syndromewomen’s basketball

Identifiers

PMID41234215
PMCPMC12605390

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.