The MCT Study is recruiting physically active females between 18–35 years old who are not currently taking hormonal contraceptives to participate in a two-week training study. Help us understand whether the menstrual cycle influences performance and metabolic adaptations to high-intensity interval training!
Study Goals
A new training approach “menstrual cycle phase-based training” is gaining attention in the media, fitness communities, and research fields. This method involves adjusting training intensity and volume based on the phase of the menstrual cycle.
The menstrual cycle has two main phases:
- Follicular Phase (FP): ~Days 1–14 after bleeding
- Luteal Phase (LP): ~Days 15–28 after bleeding
Some research suggests that women may perform better or respond more favorably to training during the FP, when estrogen and progesterone levels are lower. However, evidence is limited, and more high-quality research is needed to understand whether training should be tailored to menstrual cycle phase.
The main goal of our study is to determine whether completing sprint interval training in the FP versus the LP influences performance improvements and metabolic adaptations.
We will assess endurance performance, aerobic fitness, muscle health, and protein synthesis before and after the training period.
Are You Eligible?
You may be eligible if you are:
- A female between 18–35 years old
- Not taking hormonal contraceptives (including oral contraceptives and hormonal IUDs)
- Currently exercising 2–4 times per week
What Does the Study Involve?
- 2 weeks of sprint interval training (3 sessions per week)
- Endurance performance and fitness assessments before and after training (including VO₂max)
- Blood sampling and 2 muscle biopsies
- Compensation for your time
What’s in It for You?
- Personalized sprint interval training for 2 weeks
- Comprehensive assessments of your endurance performance and fitness (including VO₂max)
- $300 for completing the full study
Want to Learn More?
If you're interested and want to see whether you qualify, please complete our brief eligibility survey:
Scan the QR code below or click here:
https://redcap.utoronto.ca/surveys/?s=7CMJ8DPCPH7D3A83
If your responses suggest that you may be eligible, a member of our team will contact you by email to schedule a consent visit, where we will review all study details so you can decide whether you’d like to participate.
