Fasting Serum Growth Hormone Levels and Growth Hormone Responses to Exercise during Normal Menstrual Cycles and Cycles of Oral Contraceptives

Abstract

Fasting growth hormone (GH) levels and GH responses to exercise were studied in normally menstruating women and in women taking oral contraceptives in order to find out whether the GH levels were related to the menstrual cycle or changed by oral contraceptives. The GH response to exercise was found to be higher when exercise was done in the midcycle period than when it was done at other points of time during the normal menstrual cycle. Fasting GH levels were unchanged throughout the menstrual cycle. Fasting GH levels and GH responses to exercise performed outside the midcycle period were identical in normally menstruating women and in women taking oral contraceptives. In conclusion, the GH response to exercise, but not fasting GH levels, were related to the menstrual cycle. The estrogen and progestin components of the contraceptives used in this study were balanced in such a way that the growth hormone levels and growth hormone responses to exercise were not changed by long-term therapy with these drugs.

Key Words:

• Exercise
• growth hormone
• menstrual cycle
• normal women
• oral contraceptives