Aim: 

We investigated the effects of menstrual cycle, oral contraception, and training status on the exhaustive exercise-induced changes in circulating DHEA-sulphate and testosterone in young women.

Methods: 

Twenty-eight healthy women were allocated to an untrained group (n=16) and a trained group (n=12) depending on their training background. The untrained group was composed of 9 oral contraceptive users (OC+) and 7 eumenorrheic women (OC-). The trained group was composed of OC+ subjects only. All the OC+ subjects were taking the same low-dose oral contraception. Three laboratory sessions were organised in a randomised order: a prolonged exercise test until exhaustion, a short-term exhaustive exercise test, and a control session. Blood specimens were collected before, during and after the exercise tests and at the same time of the day during the control session.

Results: 

Basal circulating testosterone was significantly lower in trained than in untrained subjects. In untrained OC- and trained OC+ subjects, the prolonged exhaustive exercise induced a significant increase in circulating DHEA-s and testosterone whereas the short-term exercise induced a significant increase in circulating DHEA-s, only. However, the magnitude of the changes tended to be smaller in trained OC+. No change was observed in untrained OC+ after both types of exercise. Menstrual phases in OC- did not influence the responses.

Conclusion: 

Exhaustive physical exercise is able to induce an increase in circulating DHEA- sulphate and testosterone in young women. Oral contraception may limit such exercise-induced changes.

Acknowledgements: 

The authors thank the World Anti- Doping Agency (WADA) for financial support.