5. Conclusions
fatigue
There appeared to be a clinically meaningful effect of creatine monohydrate supplementation on some performance outcomes, particularly in the high hormone phase, as shown by a 5% decrease in FI in the creatine monohydrate group compared to a <1% change in the PL group. Though the findings were not statistically significant, the data suggests that creatine monohydrate could help counteract sprint performance decrements in the high hormone phase. This data can help inform creatine monohydrate loading strategies for active females. Creatine monohydrate supplementation did not appear to influence HRV values. Across both groups, resting HRV values were lower in the high hormone phase, suggesting the possibility of diminished recovery from exercise in this phase; this could also be attributed to the higher PP obtained during the cycling test in the creatine monohydrate group. More research in women is needed to examine the effect of a longer creatine monohydrate supplementation period on performance and recovery values across different hormonal profiles. Additionally, future research should evaluate the potential impact of creatine supplementation on amenorrheic females. It appears that a short-term loading phase may help reduce fatigue for women, particularly in their high hormone phase. The impact of hormonal contraception on these outcomes should be explored further. 