How your Cycle and Birth Control effect Gains/Fat-Loss with Lyle Mcdonald
Topics covered
Popular Clips
Episode Highlights
Performance Impact
The impact of hormonal contraceptives on women's performance and training outcomes is complex. explains that different generations of progestins in birth control pills vary in their androgenic effects, which can influence muscle growth potential. He notes that first-generation progestins are highly androgenic, causing side effects like oily skin and acne, while fourth-generation progestins are antiandrogenic, potentially hindering muscle gains 1.
Birth control could be an entire hour to try to explain it.
---
Research on this topic is limited and often flawed, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. However, highlights a study showing that more androgenic birth control methods result in less muscle gain compared to less androgenic options 2.
  Â
Contraceptive Effects
Different contraceptive methods have varying effects on women's physiology. discusses the drawbacks of Depo-Provera, a high-potency synthetic progesterone, which can cause weight gain, muscle loss, and bone density reduction 3. In contrast, hormonal IUDs release a local progestin, minimally affecting systemic hormone levels and muscle gain.
The hormonal IUD is purely local. It releases a synthetic progestin which thickens the endometrium.
---
While oral contraceptives can lower testosterone levels, impacting muscle growth, IUDs allow for normal hormonal cycling, making them a preferable choice for athletes concerned about performance 2.