Did you know that a woman's menstrual cycle could give her a competitive edge in sports? It’s not just about physical strength—timing matters more than you think. A groundbreaking study has revealed that female athletes experience a significant boost in reaction times and cognitive performance on the day they ovulate. But here's where it gets controversial: could this natural advantage be a game-changer in high-stakes competitions, or is it just another overlooked detail in women’s sports science? Let’s dive in.
According to research published in Sports Medicine – Open (https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00924-8), female athletes react 80 milliseconds faster and make fewer errors on the day they ovulate. To put that into perspective, in elite sports, 80 milliseconds can mean the difference between winning and losing—or even avoiding a serious injury. Researchers from University College London (UCL) tracked 54 women aged 18 to 40, categorizing them based on their activity levels: inactive, recreationally active, club-level athletes, and elite competitors. Participants completed cognitive tests and reported their mood and symptoms during key phases of their menstrual cycle: the first day of menstruation, the late follicular phase, ovulation, and the mid-luteal phase.
The results were striking. On average, women reacted 30 milliseconds faster during ovulation compared to other phases. But for elite athletes, the difference was even more dramatic. Their attention and inhibition scores improved by over 120 milliseconds, and their simple reaction time sped up by 80 milliseconds during ovulation. Dr. Flaminia Ronca, the study’s lead author, emphasized the real-world implications: ‘In fast-paced sports like rugby, slower reaction times could increase the risk of concussion or musculoskeletal injuries.’ And this is the part most people miss: the study also found that inactive women had reaction times 70 milliseconds slower and made three times as many impulsive errors compared to active participants, regardless of their cycle phase. This raises a critical question: could staying active be as essential for cognitive health as it is for physical fitness?
Stephanie Hilborne, CEO of Women in Sport (https://www.theguardian.com/society/women), highlighted the broader implications: ‘The cognitive benefits of being active are just as important as the physical ones. Faster reaction times can prevent falls, which is especially crucial for older women facing higher risks of osteoporosis.’ With one in two women over 50 suffering from osteoporosis compared to one in nine men, this research adds urgency to the call for greater female participation in sports and physical activity.
But here’s a thought-provoking question: Should sports organizations start considering menstrual cycle phases when scheduling training and competitions? Or would that reinforce stereotypes about women’s performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation that’s just getting started.
