Weight Class and Menstrual Symptoms in Female Judo Athletes

ackground: Menstrual cycle and menstrual symptoms can a ect the physical, mental and exercise performance of female ath-letes. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the associated symptoms of premenstrual, menstrual, and postmenstrual periods in female judo athletes by weight class. Methods: The participants were 169 female judo athletes aged between 18 and 21 years (age 19.5 ± 1.1 years, height 1.6 ± 0.1 m, body mass 64.8 ± 12.1 kg). Weight class and physical characteristics were measured using a questionnaire. Associated menstrual symp-toms were measured using the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ). For the purposes of this study, athletes of < 48 kg, < 52 kg, and < 57 kg weight were defined as “lightweight,” athletes of < 63 kg and < 70 kg as “medium weight,” and athletes of < 78 kg and78 kg as “heavyweight.” Results: In the postmenstrual MDQ score, the scores for “lack of autonomic nervous system coordination” (P = 0.037), “poor concen-tration” (P = 0.046) and “water conservation” (P = 0.030) were higher in the lightweight ranks than in the medium and heavyweight ranks (P < 0.05). Scores for negative postmenstrual e ects tended to be higher in the lightweight ranks than in the medium and heavy weight ranks (P = 0.053). For other items, there were no significant di erences between the medium and heavy weight ranks and the lightweight ranks before, during, or after menstruation. Conclusions: This study shows that the degree of postmenstrual symptoms in female judo athletes varies with weight class. These results will contribute to support the condition of female judo athletes based on their menstrual cycle by weight class.