Moderate Aerobic Exercise for Managing Menstrual Cycle Symptoms

Inclusion criteria

• premenopausal (defined as having regular menstrual periods every 21-35 days)
• either not using hormonal or non-hormonal contraceptives (i.e., intrauterine device) for the past 6 months OR using combined oral contraceptives (i.e., those that contain progesterone and estrogen) for at least the past 6 months
• not currently pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• sedentary lifestyle (score of "low activity/inactive" assessed using the IPAQ)
• have self reported menstrual cycle symptoms (symptoms reported on the PSST or MSi)
• do not have a medical diagnosis or signs/symptoms of diabetes, cardiovascular, or renal disease and are able to participate in moderate intensity physical activity without physician clearance

Exclusion criteria

• becoming physically active defined as scoring higher than "low activity/inactive" on the IPAQ during the first month of the study
• non compliance with instructions provided for the moderate aerobic exercise intervention (i.e., not adhering to predetermined intensity heart rate targets) or miss more than 25% of exercise sessions in either intervention month
• becoming pregnant during enrollment
• being diagnosed with a cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal disease that would require physical clearance to participate in moderate intensity aerobic physical activity
• begin using hormonal or non-hormonal (i.e., intrauterine devices) contraceptives if assigned to the arm not using hormonal contraceptives
• either begin a different type of contraceptive or discontinue combined hormonal contraceptive use if assigned to the hormonal contraceptive arm