As participation in sports and exercise by girls and women has increased, a number of medical concerns have arisen regarding the health of these athletes.

Menstrual Disorders
Many factors including illness and physical or emotional stress affect menstrual cycles. Missing a few periods during the year is not a major concern, but cessation of periods for more than three months can lead to health problems.

Amenorrhea (lack of periods) is a common problem in young female athletes. Strenuous training can disrupt the menstrual cycles. Absence of menses, especially in combination with an inadequate diet, puts these athletes at risk for stress fractures.

The estrogens that regulate the menstrual cycle play a significant role in building and maintaining bone mass. For decades, physicians have known that after a woman goes through menopause, there can be a significant loss of bone density (osteoporosis), creating weak bones that fracture easily.

Recent research shows that young women who stop having periods for a prolonged time begin to develop osteoporosis. Treatment for this problem may include the use of hormones such as birth control pills.
 
Nutrition
The social pressure to look "model-thin" compels many normal-size women to lose weight through fad diets, fasting, vomiting after meals, use of diuretics and excessive exercise. Although they may be thin, these measures can pose health risks, including malnutrition.

Food is energy measured in calories. Just as your car needs fuel to make it go, so does your body. It is extremely important for athletes to eat a well balanced diet, paying special attention to protein which helps repair and build muscle after exercise; iron, the component of blood that transports oxygen through the body; and calcium, the building block of bone.

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are unfortunately very common in women, including athletes. This is especially true in sports such as distance running and gymnastics. These disorders can create lifelong health problems and when severe, can be fatal.

The Female Athlete Triad
In 1993 a group of sports medicine specialists met to discuss health issues in female athletes, including the increasing occurrence of amenorrhea, eating disorders and loss of bone density in a large number of athletes. The combination of these three common problems led to the term "the female athlete triad. "

What Can You Do?
If you have stopped having periods for more than three months, you should schedule a visit with your physician. Eat a well balanced diet and consider supplementing your intake of iron and calcium, especially if you are not having periods. Talk to you parents, trainer or doctor regarding your concerns.

Click here to request an appointment.

For more information or to schedule an appointment over the phone with a Trinity Clinic Orthopedic and Sports Medicine physician, please call (903) 510-8840.