Twenty highly trained, eumenorrhoeic female endurance runners were studied over three consecutive menstrual cycles. Average training distance per week, total years training and mood states were recorded throughout the three cycles. Salivary
progesterone and menstrual cycle diaries were recorded over the first two cycles to identify luteal phase onset and the presence of any
menstrual irregularities. Saliva samples were collected daily over the third cycle for analysis of
immunoglobulin A (
IgA) concentration and secretion and saliva flow rate. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no significant differences in mood states across the phases of the menstrual cycle (P > 0.05). Training logs indicated that training did not alter throughout the 3 month study. One-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences in
IgA concentration (P = 0.92), secretion rate (P = 0.84) or saliva flow rate (P = 0.95) across the phases of the menstrual cycle. Pearson's product-moment correlation revealed no relationship between
IgA concentration and
progesterone between the phases of the cycle (r = 0.39). We conclude that, in ovulatory female endurance runners whose physical and emotional stress are stable,
IgA concentration is not significantly affected by fluctuations in
progesterone during the menstrual cycle.