Introduction: Hormone levels fluctuate significantly throughout the menstrualcycle (MC), potentially impacting physical performance during training. However,the number of studies examining women’s experiences during strength trainingthroughout the MC is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explorewomen’s perceptions of strength training during different MC phases.

Methods: In this study, a qualitative study design was used where five women(24–32 years) with recreational experience in strength training kept an exercisediary during a MC. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews andanalyzed using qualitative conventional content analysis, with an inductive approach.

Results: From the analysis, three overarching themes describing the content ofthe interviews emerged: “Biopsychosocial Dynamics and Individual Variability inthe Early Follicular Phase”, “From Peak to Breaking Point: Performance Dynamicsfrom Late Follicular Phase to Ovulation” and “Diversity in Mental and PhysicalWell-Being During the Luteal Phase”. From women’s perspectives, strengthtraining performance seems to fluctuate across the different phases of theMC, influenced by both physiological and psychological challenges, thoughwith individual variation.

Discussion: The findings highlight the need for a holistic approach to managingthe physiological and psychological challenges that may arise during each phaseof the MC, along with the importance of social support. The results also stressthat performance fluctuations across the MC are unique, further emphasizingthe inability to recommend general phase-based exercise protocols.