Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Nov 1;36(11):3074-3080.
doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004059. Epub 2021 May 14.

Oral Contraceptive Use Impairs Muscle Gains in Young Women

Steven E Riechman  1 , Chang Woock Lee  2
Affiliations

Oral Contraceptive Use Impairs Muscle Gains in Young Women

Steven E Riechman et al. J Strength Cond Res. .

Abstract

Riechman, SE and Lee, CW. Oral contraceptive use impairs muscle gains in young women. J Strength Cond Res 36(11): 3074-3080, 2022-Many active young women use oral contraceptives (OCs), yet their effects on the body composition and exercise performance have not been thoroughly studied. We examined the effects of OCs on muscle responses to a standardized resistance exercise training (RET) program. Two groups of young healthy women (18-29 years old, non-OC: n = 38, OC: n = 34) underwent 10 weeks of whole-body RET (3 days·wk -1 , 3 sets, 6-10 repetitions, at 75% of maximum strength, 13 exercises). Body composition was determined using hydrostatic weighing, and blood samples were taken before and after training to measure dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), IGF-1, and cortisol levels. There were significant differences in lean mass gains between the groups (non-OC: 3.5 ± 0.4% vs. OC: 2.1 ± 0.5% and non-OC: 1.6 ± 0.2 kg vs. OC: 1.0 ± 0.2 kg, p < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of DHEA, DHEAS, and IGF-1 were significantly lower, and cortisol levels were higher in the OC group before and after training ( p < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in lean mass gains depending on the androgenicity of progestin between the non-OC and medium-high groups (non-OC: 1.6 ± 0.2 kg, Low = 1.1 ± 0.2 kg, med-high = 0.3 ± 0.5 kg, p < 0.05). Oral contraceptive use impaired lean mass gains in young women after RET and was associated with lower DHEA, DHEAS, and IGF-1 and higher cortisol. The diminished lean mass gain may be related to the effect of OCs on anabolic and catabolic hormone levels or the androgenicity of progestin that may bind to androgen receptors and inhibit its function.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. ADA. Position of the American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and athletic performance. J Am Diet Assoc 100: 1543–1556, 2000.
    1. Amiri N, Fathei M, Mosaferi Ziaaldini M. Effects of resistance training on muscle strength, insulin-like growth factor-1, and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in healthy elderly subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hormones (Athens) 20: 247–257, 2021.
    1. Armstrong LE, Maresh CM, Keith NR, et al. Heat acclimation and physical training adaptations of young women using different contraceptive hormones. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 288: E868–E875, 2005.
    1. Burrows M, Peters CE. The influence of oral contraceptives on athletic performance in female athletes. Sports Med 37: 557–574, 2007.
    1. Carr BR. Uniqueness of oral contraceptive progestins. Contraception 58: 23S–27S, 1998.

LinkOut - more resources