Sex-specific physiological responses to training and recovery in women: from menstrual cycle dynamics to long-term adaptation

Despite the significant increase in women’s participation in both competitive and recreational sports, physiological research in exercise science continues to rely predominantly on male derived evidence. This imbalance has led to an incomplete understanding of how biological sex differences influence performance, recovery, adaptation, and overall health in physically active women. Women experience unique physiological processes related to hormonal cycles, reproductive phases, and metabolic regulation that distinctly affect training response and injury risk. Recent advances (spanning hormonal profiling, wearable technologies, and individualized monitoring) underscore the growing need for research specifically addressing active female populations. However, comprehensive, longitudinal, and mechanistic investigations remain scarce, and current guidelines for training and recovery optimization in women often lack empirical foundation. This Research Topic aims to deepen understanding of the sex-specific physiological responses to exercise, training, and recovery in women across varying sports and performance levels. It seeks to elucidate how menstrual cycle phases, hormonal contraception, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause mediate short- and long-term adaptation. We invite studies exploring endocrine, metabolic, cardiovascular, neuromuscular, and psychological dynamics underlying performance, as well as interventions and methodological innovations that enhance monitoring and management of women’s training and recovery. Ultimately, this collection aspires to advance evidence-based, individualized strategies that promote both performance optimization and long-term health for women engaged in sport and exercise. This Research Topic will address women’s physiology in sport through a multidisciplinary lens encompassing molecular, cellular, systemic, and behavioral perspectives, while focusing specifically on empirical and applied investigations in active female populations. To gather further insights within these boundaries, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes: • Menstrual cycle and hormonal regulation of training load, recovery, and performance • Hormonal contraceptive use and physiological adaptation • Endocrine and metabolic mechanisms underlying sex differences in exercise response • Injury risk, prevention, and rehabilitation (e.g., musculoskeletal injury, energy availability, RED-S) • Influence of pregnancy, postpartum period, and menopause on training and performance • Cardiovascular, respiratory, neuromuscular, and thermoregulatory responses in women • Nutrition, hydration, and supplementation strategies tailored to female physiology • Wearable technologies and individualized monitoring in women’s sport • Methodological advances and sex-sensitive research design We encourage submissions in the form of Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Meta-Analyses, Narrative Reviews, and Perspective articles. Topic editors: Yoko Saito, James Shadiow Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81088/sex-specific-physiological-responses-to-training-and-recovery-in-women-from-menstrual-cycle-dynamics-to-long-term-adaptation