Amenorrhea in the adolescent athlete

Preview

Female athletes are reporting an increasing number of menstrual abnormalities, including amenorrhea, that appear to be related to their participation in intense forms of exercise. A number of hypotheses have been offered to explain why these abnormalities occur: The young women may have too little body fat or weight; they may have lost a substantial amount of weight; they may be under marked stress—either emotional or physical; or they may be involved in a type of self-selection. Each of these hypotheses is examined in turn by Dr Litt, who also addresses potential consequences of amenorrhea and ways to intervene.