ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Does oral contraceptive use affect maximum force production in women?

K J Elliott¹, N T Cable², T Reilly²

¹ University of Brighton, Brighton, UK
² John Moores University, Liverpool, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr K Elliott
University of Brighton, 12 Greendale Close, Fareham PO156ES, UK; kirsty.elliott2{at}btopenworld.com

Objective: To examine the effects of oral contraceptive use on maximum force production in young women.

Methods: In the study, 21 female subjects (14 pill users and seven eumenorrheic controls) took part. All pill using subjects had been taking a combined, monophasic oral contraceptive pill for at least 6 months. Maximum dynamic and isometric leg strength, maximum isometric strength of the first dorsal interosseus (FDI) muscle, and plasma concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone were measured on days 7 and 14 of pill consumption and day 5 of pill withdrawal. The eumenorrheic group was tested (FDI strength and hormone concentrations) on days 2 and 21 of the menstrual cycle.

Results: There were no significant changes in the concentration of endogenous oestradiol or progesterone or any measure of muscle strength between pill phases (p<0.05). The pill group did not significantly differ from the eumenorrheic group (p<0.05), despite a significant increase in the concentration of progesterone and oestradiol on day 21 of the menstrual cycle compared with day 2 of the menstrual cycle and pill consumption and withdrawal (p<0.05).

Conclusions: These data suggest that oral contraceptive use does not significantly affect muscle strength. Moreover, oral contraceptive users were not stronger or weaker than their eumenorrheic counterparts.

Abbreviations: C, consumption; EF, early follicular; FDI, first dorsal interosseus; FSH, follicle stimulating hormone; GnRH, gonadotropin releasing hormone; HRT, hormone replacement therapy; LH, lutenising hormone; ML, mid-luteal; MVIF, maximum voluntary isometric force; N, maximum dynamic and isometric force of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles; Nm, maximum voluntary isometric force of the FDI muscle; WD, withdrawal

Keywords: oral contraceptives; muscle strength; oestrogen; progesterone

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