ABSTRACT
Women respond to altitude in very much the same way as men. They acclimatize in a similar way and are as likely to get acute mountain sickness (AMS). Their exercise performance is similarly affected by altitude. Recent studies into the effect of the menstrual cycle have failed to find significant differences in performance or susceptibility to AMS in different phases of the cycle. Women seem to have an advantage over men in that they lose less weight at altitude probably because they suffer less loss of appetite. The risk of altitude in pregnancy is not known, but in the present state of knowledge women in the early stages of pregnancy are advised not to go beyond moderate altitudes. This is because of the possible risk of hypoxia on organogenesis in the fetus and likely discomfort for the mother in later pregnancy. Oral contraceptives (the pill) are widely used for both contraception and for menstrual regulation by women at altitude. Although there is the theoretical risk that altitude and increased hematocrit may lead to thrombosis, there is no direct evidence that this is the case.
