Date of Completion

Spring 5-1-2020

Thesis Advisor(s)

Douglas Casa, Jessica Beaudet, Gabrielle Giersch

Honors Major

Allied Health Sciences

Disciplines

Sports Sciences

Abstract

In the field of athletics, research including females is limited. Oftentimes, research that only included male subjects is generalized and is later used to incorporate guidelines for both male and female athletes. This study focused on how the menstrual cycle, a female exclusive bodily process, could change hydration status. Participants within the study were between the ages of 18 and 35 and only data from females was analyzed. The study was designed as a crossover subject trial over the span of two months. Subjects participated in a total of four trials that were divided into phase-hydration groups. Two trials were in each phase of the menstrual cycle, follicular and luteal, and combined with a hydration status of euhydrated or dehydrated. The project focused on changes in blood pressure, weight, urine specific gravity (USG), rectal temperature, and estrogen and progesterone levels. Results indicated no significant change between any of the phase-hydration groups (P > 0.082). However, these results conclude that by the body not experiencing differences in the dependent variables analyzed, it is able to remain in a state of homeostasis, which could be overall more beneficial for ones’ health.

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