Conditioning Military Women for Optimal Performance: Effects of Contraceptive Use
Abstract
The purpose of this investigation is to discover the effects of a physical training plus heat acclimation program on exercise performance, thermoregulation, immune function, and reproductive and stress hormone responses in three groups of women: oral contraceptive (OC), Depo-Provera (DEPO) contraceptive, and eumenorrheic-ovulatory (EU-OV) no contraceptive. The two-year total number of subjects was 22 (EU-OV, 9; ORAL, 10; DEPO, 3). DEPO was not statistically compared to the EU-OV and ORAL groups, due to the small number of subjects, but means + SE are reported. All subjects were stronger, more physically fit, leaner, and heat acclimated at the end of the 8-week physical training program. In terms of reproductive hormones, study participants responded to the training regimen unremarkably. The ovulatory status of the eumenorrheic group at post-training appears similar to the pre-training period. Cycle length, follicular phase length, and luteal length appear to have remained unchanged. In terms of aldosterone and the stress hormones, results also are unremarkable. Trends in the data suggest that oral contraceptives moderately activate both the humoral and cellular immune systems. This may mean that oral contraceptives improve the ability of female soldiers to resist infections. Year III observations will clarify this hypothesis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADB242926
Entities
People
- Carl M. Maresh
- Lawrence E. Armstrong
Organizations
- University of Connecticut