The current scientific literature suggests that women ’s body are less adept at handling the physiologic stresses triggered by vivid exercise than those of biological males . However , a   recent feat by a kickass team of distaff adventurer make the Ice Maidens suggests otherwise .

In a intro at the Society for Endocrinology yearly conference in Glasgow this calendar week , investigator from the University of Edinburgh and the UK Royal Centre for Defence have partake in pre - publication result of a study that monitored the Ice Maidens ’ ivory strength , exercising weight , and internal secretion before and after their record - crack two - calendar month ski journey across Antarctica .

" Our finding contain some potentially myth - busting data point on the impact of uttermost physical activity on women . We have shown that with appropriate training and readying , many of the previously account negative wellness effect can be forefend , " lead source Dr Robert Gifford sound out in astatement .

" These findings could have important relevance for men and women in laborious or trying employment , where there is concern that they are damage their health . If an appropriate preparation and nutritionary authorities is followed , their health may be protect . "

Completed between November 2017 and January 2018 , theIce Maiden expeditionwas a 1,700 - klick ( 1,000 - mile ) coast - to - sea-coast trek across the frozen continent powered by nothing other than muscle and determination . All active or reserve officers in the British army , the womanhood traveled inextreme conditionscharacterized by temperature as low as -40 ℃ ( -40 ℉ ) and blister 96 - km/h ( 60 - miles per hour ) winds for 61 Day . With no backup and only two resupply caches along the manner , the athletes towed all their own gear and food on 77 - kg ( 170 - pound ) sled .

When they arrived at the finish demarcation at the Hercules Inlet on January 21 , they became the first all - distaff group to discharge such a crossing .

After comparing physiologic marker taken one and two month prior to the expedition to those taken 4 to 16 24-hour interval after it terminate , Dr Gifford and his colleagues were surprised to observe that the women ’s gender steroids , corticoid , and metabolic markers were mostly unaffected by the strict body process . Only levels ofleptin –   a hormone involved in fat warehousing and metabolism – and vitamin D were significantly altered , appear to fall during the trek but recovering by 24-hour interval 11 after .

marker for bone cell turnover were found to be in flux before ( in all probability due to the intensive training ) and immediately after the journey , but these ingredient also returned to normal levels by twenty-four hour period 11 . ivory force and integrity were unchanged .

And quite remarkably , even though hairsbreadth sample present that monthly average Cortef was lift during the emotionally and physically taxing journeying , the organic structure ’s responsiveness to the hormone did not alter , as it often does as a answer of needlelike or inveterate accent .

Less surprisingly , the Ice Maidens lose an norm of 9.5 kg ( 21 pounds ) of fat mass ; their lean tidy sum was unchanged .

Overall , these changes are standardized to what one would see in a team of male jock .

“ This study is unprecedented in women , demonstrating marked resiliency in procreative subprogram , theHPA axis[the hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal neuroendocrine system ] , and pearl , evoke that female biologic capacity for extreme endurance drill is dandy than anticipated , ” the research worker write in theirstudy abstract .

Because these results came from a small group of Caucasian women , it would be good to confirm women ’s exercise resiliency in big , more racially diverse cohorts . But seeing as physical challenges as hardcore as span Antarctica on ski only attract to a small figure of homo of any type , it might take a while to do so .

Meanwhile , the researcher plan to look into how different   utmost activeness negatively touch wellness , with the aim of uncover ways of preventing such result .