Some female athletes experience amenorrhea, an absence of a normal menstrual cycle. Once dismissed as harmless, amenorrhea is coming under increased scrutiny. In most cases, treatment is simple, but questions remain about the long-term effects of amenorrhea.
It appears that amenorrhea can result from a variety of factors, including hormonal imbalances, low body weight, low percentage of body fat, etc. Eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia, can also cause amenorrhea.
Some of the factors which contribute to amenorrhea are under your control:
Nutrition - some athletes are undernourished. Chronically consuming too few calories and, specifically, insufficient protein are risk factors.
Weight - excessive thinness can add to your risk of amenorrhea.
- Sport - obviously there are many benefits associated with regular exercise and physical conditioning. However, excessive exercise and going to extremes in physical conditioning can cause problems.
What are the long-term consequences of amenorrhea? There is no current conclusive evidence regarding the long-term impact of amenorrhea caused by an eating disorder. However, some concerns have been raised in the following key areas:
Fertility, Stress Fractures and Osteoporosis
It is recommended that you not dismiss the absence of your period as a simple by-product of training. If you have amenorrhea, check with your physician, the College physician, or a member of the Sports Medicine department.
Mayo Clinic Nutrition Letter Vol. 2, No. 9, Sept. (1989)