Tolerability of statokinetic load by female servicemen in different phases of the ovarian–menstrual cycle

Abstract

Currently, women in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are trained in higher flight educational institutions, including the Faculty of Fighter Aviation. In 2022, the first issue of female pilots was conducted. However, the existing selection system, including assessment and training of statokinetic stability, is based on male physiological characteristics and does not consider cyclic hormonal changes occurring in a woman’s body during the ovarian–menstrual cycle. Although the practice of allowing women to fly has been practiced for approximately 100 years, studies in the field of tolerability of statokinetic effects by women, including in different phases of the ovarian–menstrual cycle, have shown contradictory results. The tolerability of the statokinetic load by female servicemen in different phases of the ovarian–menstrual cycle was investigated, considering the nature of its course. Sixty-three female servicemen participated in the study. Taking into account the course of the ovarian–menstrual cycle, the patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 (n = 28) had a regular ovarian–menstrual cycle without premenstrual syndrome, group 2 (n = 26) had a regular ovarian–menstrual cycle with premenstrual syndrome, and group 3 (n = 9) were taking combined oral contraceptives. Physiological parameters (blood pressure and heart rate) were recorded before, during, and after the test. The statokinetic load was modeled by performing a rotational test of V.I. Voyachek “otolith reaction-10” in the follicular and luteal phases of the ovarian–menstrual cycle. The tolerability of statokinetic load in groups 1 and 3 in different phases of the ovarian–menstrual cycle were not different. In group 2, the luteal phase of the ovarian–menstrual cycle was characterized by a significant deterioration in the tolerability of the statokinetic load compared with the follicular phase of the ovarian–menstrual cycle and with the luteal phase in groups 1 and 3. In addition, in group 2, in the luteal phase of the ovarian–menstrual cycle, a change in the reactivity of the circulatory system to the presentation of a statokinetic load was noted, manifested by higher heart rates. Thus, the phases of the ovarian–menstrual cycle did not affect the tolerability of the statokinetic load in female servicemen with a regular ovarian–menstrual cycle without premenstrual syndrome and in women taking combined oral contraceptives. In female servicemen with a regular ovarian–menstrual cycle and premenstrual syndrome, the tolerance of statokinetic load was dependent on the phases of the ovarian–menstrual cycle and worsened in the luteal phase.