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    Why We Must Stop Assuming and Estimating Menstrual Cycle Phases in Laboratory and Field-Based Sport Related Research

    Elliott-Sale, Kirsty Jayne ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1122-5099, Altini, Marco ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5981-4066, Doyle-Baker, Patricia ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9296-8921, Ferrer, Eva ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9716-1577, Flood, Tessa Rose ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8897-0957, Harris, Rachel ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1955-894X, Impellizzeri, Franco Milko ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1703-2573, de Jonge, Xanne Janse ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3657-5298, Kryger, Katrine Okholm ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0924-6181, Lewin, Gary, Lebrun, Constance M ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7408-4521, McCall, Alan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3780-8153, Nimphius, Sophia ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3524-0245, Phillips, Stuart M ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1956-4098, Swinton, Paul A ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9663-0696, Taylor, Madison ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4241-3004, Verhagen, Evert ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9227-8234 and Burden, Richard James ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2811-5454 (2025) Why We Must Stop Assuming and Estimating Menstrual Cycle Phases in Laboratory and Field-Based Sport Related Research. Sports Medicine. ISSN 0112-1642

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    Abstract

    The increased growth, popularity, and media interest in women's sport has led to calls for greater prioritisation of female-specific research and innovation. In response, science and medicine researchers have increased the volume of sport-related studies investigating female-specific matters, such as the menstrual cycle. Whilst the accelerated rate of published studies with female participants is welcome, the emerging trend of using assumed or estimated menstrual cycle phases to characterise ovarian hormone profiles is a significant concern. Replacing direct measurements of key characteristics of the menstrual cycle (e.g. the surge in luteinising hormone prior to ovulation via urine detection and sufficient luteal phase progesterone via blood or saliva sampling) with assumptions or estimates (i.e. no measurements) is proposed to be a pragmatic and convenient way of generating data, particularly in field-based research (i.e. elite athlete environments), where time, resources, and athlete availability are sometimes constrained. Using assumed or estimated phases, however, amounts to guessing the occurrence and timing of ovarian hormone fluctuations and risks potentially significant implications for female athlete health, training, performance, injury, etc., as well as resource deployment. The positive intentions of researchers and scientific journals in this space are not in question. The aim of this Current Opinion is to explain why using assumed or estimated menstrual cycle phases is an approach that has little scientific basis and lacks the rigour and appropriate methodological quality to produce valid and reliable data. In doing so, we provide evidence-based responses to common speculation points and offer recommendations for future research.

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