# women are often tested in the early follicular phase to minimise the effects of oestrogen & progesterone > When research involving exercise metabolism includes women, participants are often tested in the early follicular phase of their menstrual cycle, when hormone levels are at their lowest, in order to minimise the possible impacts oestradiol and progesterone may have on the study outcomes.[3][[(Bruinvels et al., 2017) 1#^36s0c]] - makes them more like men, sort of!