A study of limitations of the Pulmonary System in Adaptability to Exercise in Luteal Phase of Menstrual Cycle

The role of progesterone on PFT was well known in the normal course of the menstrual cycle. Significant increase in both progesterone (37%) and estradiol (13.5%), whereas no change in plasma FSH & LH was observed in exercising women in previous studies. Therefore this study was intended to see the limitations of the pulmonary system in adaptability to exercise in luteal phase of menstrual cycle. It was observed that exercise per se does not cause a statistically significant change in dynamic lung function parameters MMEF, PEFR, MEF 25% to 75% in either of the groups. This finding supports the hypothesis that the respiratory system is not normally the most limiting factor in the delivery of oxygen even under the predominant influence of progesterone in luteal phase which is further accentuated by exercise.