The effects of physiological changes in estrogens and androgens on the erythrocyte antioxidant superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities during the menstrual cycle were investigated in healthy eumenorrheic women. Blood samples were taken on alternate days from twelve normally cyclic women (age range: 20 to 27 years; mean age: 24.1 years) from the first day of one menstrual cycle until the first day of the subsequent one. Plasma was analyzed for FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, free testosterone and androstenedione concentrations. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were evaluated on the same days and cycle length was standardized on the basis of the preovulatory estradiol peak. Significant cyclic phase-related changes were observed in glutathione peroxidase (P<0.05), with higher glutathione peroxidase activity levels from the late follicular to the early luteal phase compared with those found in the early follicular phase (P<0.001 and P<0.002 respectively). A significant positive correlation was observed between mean estradiol and glutathione peroxidase cycle-related variations (r=0.80, P<0.001), whereas no significant cycle phase-dependent changes were seen in superoxide dismutase and catalase. No effect of progesterone and androgens on the erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme system was documented. The findings indicate that physiological ovarian estradiol production during the menstrual cycle may have an important role in regulating erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity.