Cycling with your menstrual cycle
Hoe Fietst de Vrouwelijke Wielrenner Door Haar Menstruatiecyclus?
This project will try to see if tracking menstrual cycle phases alongside training data helps explain changes in performance and training feelings for female cyclists.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 750 (estimated) |
| Ages | 12 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Martini Hospital Groningen Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Groningen and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06634134 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is an observational project enrolling female cyclists who are JOIN app members to track their menstrual cycles together with subjective and objective training data. Participants will log cycle timing and symptoms in the app while sharing device-recorded metrics such as power, heart rate, and training load from their rides. Investigators will combine these data with statistical and AI analyses to look for consistent patterns in endurance, recovery, power output, and motivation across cycle phases. If patterns emerge, the findings could inform individualized, cycle-aware training guidance.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are menstruating female cyclists who use the JOIN cycling app, are willing to track their periods and symptoms, and agree to share their training device data.
Not a fit: People who are not menstruating (for example postmenopausal women or some using certain hormonal therapies), unwilling to track cycle information, or who do not use compatible cycling devices are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could enable more effective, personalized cycling training plans that align workouts with each woman’s menstrual cycle and potentially reduce fatigue and injury risk.
How similar studies have performed: Small pilot studies and anecdotal reports suggest cycle-based periodized training can affect performance, but evidence is limited and results across studies are mixed, so applying app-based and AI analyses is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * JOIN cycling app member * female cyclist * informed consent period tracking in JOIN Exclusion Criteria: * none
Where this trial is running
Groningen and 1 other locations
- Martini Ziekenhuis — Groningen, Netherlands (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Martini ziekenhuis — Groningen, Netherlands (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Anne Marijn van der Graaf, MD/PhD
- Email: annemarijn.graaf@outlook.com
- Phone: 0031611474158
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.