Published August 24, 2026 10:10AM<\/p>\n
Lately, women have been inundated with information about our cycles, hormone levels, aging, and how it all affects our athletic\u2014and yes, running\u2014performance. It\u2019s refreshing that women\u2019s health is (finally!) getting some attention, but all this new information can make it feel like our hormonal fluctuations are working against our training and race times.<\/p>\n
Many of us have invested in fitness trackers that promise to monitor our cycles. They constantly spit data at us, sometimes urging us to \u201ctake it easy\u201d because our luteal phase is in full swing. Yet it can still be hard to pinpoint why we\u2019re crushing workouts one week\u2014regardless of where we are in our cycle\u2014while the next week feels like we\u2019re fighting for our lives.<\/p>\n
And now, a new remedy for runners: hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Instagram ads for online hormone-optimization specialists, billboards for in-person clinics\u2014all promising to enhance athletic performance. It\u2019s both tempting and confusing to consider. (And is it even safe?)<\/p>\n
We spoke with three endocrinologists to break down how hormones affect running performance in the first place, whether HRT is a legitimate way to improve it, and what to know before trying it.<\/p>\n
How Hormones Impact Athletic Performance<\/p>\n
For women, there are two main hormones at play in running performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth estrogen and progesterone have effects on athletic performance\u2014though the differences in performance are small,\u201d Dr. Gillian Goddard<\/a>, MD, board-certified endocrinologist and author of The Hormone Loop<\/a> at Park Avenue Endocrinology, tells Outside Run.<\/p>\n Estrogen and progesterone rise and fall throughout the menstrual cycle, and those shifts can affect everything from energy levels and recovery to body temperature and how hard a workout feels.<\/p>\n \u201cSome women feel strongest around the middle of their cycle, when estrogen is higher,\u201d says Dr. Fady Hannah-Shmouni<\/a>, MD, FRCPC, endocrinologist and geneticist, professor at the University of British Columbia, and medical director at Eli Health<\/a>. \u201cOthers notice that the week before their period they\u2019re running hotter, feel more fatigued, or recover a little more slowly.\u201d<\/p>\n Goddard adds that women may feel the biggest difference in performance (as measured by peak VO2, the maximum amount of oxygen the body uses during intense exercise) between the early follicular phase (during your period) and the late follicular phase, when estrogen is rising leading up to ovulation.<\/p>\n That said, every woman\u2019s body is different, and there\u2019s a lot of individual variation to account for.<\/p>\n \u201cScience doesn\u2019t support<\/a> the idea that every woman performs better or worse at the same point in her cycle,\u201d adds Hannah-Shmouni. \u201cInstead of trying to force your training to match a calendar, it\u2019s more useful to understand your own patterns and adjust when needed.\u201d<\/p>\n When Should Hormone Testing Be Done?<\/p>\n Short answer: women don\u2019t need to wait until perimenopause or menopause to get their hormones tested. According to the National Institutes of Health<\/a>, perimenopause typically begins between ages 45 and 55, and the average age of menopause in the United States is 52.<\/p>\n Speaking with an endocrinologist well before then is smart, especially if you\u2019re dealing with common hormone-related concerns, notes Dr. Priya Jaisinghani, MD<\/a>, an endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist at NYU Langone Health.<\/p>\n These concerns can include irregular or absent periods, hair loss, excessive hair growth, acne, heavy periods, menstrual cycle changes, weight gain, weight loss, premenstrual symptoms, bone fractures (including stress fractures), and, of course, symptoms of perimenopause or menopause.<\/p>\n \u201cMany women may be experiencing [these] symptoms and not realize they can be linked to hormones or hormonal transitions,\u201d adds Jaisinghani.<\/p>\n Is HRT Legit?<\/p>\n