Hormonal
Oral contraceptive use does not negatively affect body composition (fat-free mass) or strength adaptations (bench press and squat 1RM) in resistance-trained women during an 8-week supervised resistance training program.
If you are a woman who has been strength training for at least two years, using combined oral contraceptives will not stop you from getting stronger or building muscle. You can continue your resistance training and diet as usual; your results should be similar to those who do not use OCs. Consult your doctor for contraceptive choices, but know that performance-wise, it is not a barrier.
The use of oral contraceptives during resistance training did not negatively affect body composition or strength levels in trained women.
Why this rating
Small sample size (n=23), quasi-experimental design (non-randomized allocation based on self-selection), and mixed OC formulations limit generalizability.
Source
Oral Contraceptive Use does not Negatively Affect Body Composition and Strength Adaptations in Trained Women
Ramón Romance et al. · International Journal of Sports Medicine · 2019
DOI 10.1055/a-0985-4373
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