Publication Abstracts

Oral Contraceptives, Exercise, and Acute Mountain Sickness in Women

Darleen A. Sandoval, Ph.D, M.S., Damon P. Maes, M.S., B.S., Leo D'Acquisto, Ph.D, M.S., Milt Icenogle, M.D., Robert C. Roach, Ph.D., M.S.
Aviat Space Environ Med 2001; 72:733-8

Abstract

Background: Previous research has found that exercise exacerbated acute mountain sickness (AMS) in men. Purpose: The current study tested this relationship in women taking oral contraceptives. Methods: We studied seven women at 428 mmHg for 10 h; once while at rest (R) and once while performing intermittent exercise (EX). Results: AMS scores had a slight increase at 9 vs. 0 h at altitude in both trials (p < 0.05). Resting measurements of ventilation (V(dot)E), arterial oxygen saturation (SPO₂), end tidal O₂ (PETO₂), and end tidal CO₂ (PETCO₂) were not different over time or between trials (p > 0.05). While fluid intake did not change, urine output increased during the 0-3 h period, regardless of trial, and returned to baseline values by the 6-9 h period (218 ± 37 vs. 121 ± 22 ml · h^-1; p < 0.05). During exercise, SPO₂ significantly dropped compared with similar time points in R (73.1 ± 1.1 vs. 85.7 ± 1.8%; p < 0.05). Despite exercise-induced desaturation, the AMS scores were not significantly different between R and EX. Conculsion: These results suggest that oral contraceptives may cause a compensation for the physiological responses to exercise critical for the development of AMS.

Keywords: altitude, ventilation, fluid balance, oxygenation.

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Table of Contents for Volume 72, Number 8 of the ASME journal.