Hormonal
Performing resistance exercise during the follicular phase (high estrogen) does not yield greater muscle protein synthesis or myofibrillar protein breakdown compared to the luteal phase (high progesterone) in naturally cycling women.
You do not need to schedule your resistance training around your menstrual cycle to maximize muscle growth. Whether you are in your follicular (high estrogen) or luteal (high progesterone) phase, your muscles respond to resistance exercise similarly in terms of protein synthesis and breakdown. Consistency in your training program is more important than trying to time your workouts with specific hormonal phases.
Fluctuations in endogenous ovarian hormones influenced neither MPS, nor MPB in response to resistance exercise. Skeletal muscle is not more anabolically responsive to resistance exercise in a particular menstrual cycle phase.
Why this rating
High-quality methodology with stable isotopes, muscle biopsies, and comprehensive hormonal tracking, though limited by a small sample size (n=12).
Source
Menstrual cycle phase does not influence muscle protein synthesis or whole‐body myofibrillar proteolysis in response to resistance exercise
Lauren M. Colenso‐Semple et al. · The Journal of Physiology · 2024
DOI 10.1113/jp287342
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