Since Title IX passed in 1972 entitling girls to participate in sports, more and more young women are training and competing at a high level. For many female athletes, their intense training can cause their period to become irregular or stop altogether. Irregular or missed periods are a warning sign of the “female athlete triad,” a constellation of conditions that includes lack of menstruation, disordered eating and low bone density.
Causes
An athlete needs a lot of energy to train and recover from her workouts. When training demands are high, some women fall behind on their calorie consumption and their body fat levels can drop dangerously low. If your body doesn’t have enough nutrients, can’t support reproductive functions and your period may become irregular—a condition called “oligomenorrhea”—or stop altogether—called “amenorrhea." When you aren’t nourishing it properly, your body leeches nutrients stored in your bones, lowering your bone density.
Effects
If your miss your period, your body is telling you that it doesn’t have enough nutrients to carry out basic functions. In addition to increasing your risk for injuries and stress fractures, irregular periods and the resulting decrease in estrogen production greatly increase your chances of developing osteoporosis when bone loss accelerates during menopause. According to a 1993 position stand by the American College of Sports Medicine, the female athlete triad increases your risk of life-threatening diseases.
High Risk
Sports that encourage athletes to keep their weight down for performance or aesthetic reasons such as gymnastics, figure skating, ballet and bodybuilding put girls at a higher risk for developing the female athlete triad because athletes diet while maintaining a rigorous training schedule. Irregular eating habits and skipping meals are warning signs that an athlete may be at risk for developing health problems. Runners and women who participate in sports that have an especially high energy cost are also at risk.
Prevention and Treatment
It is important for female athletes to eat enough nutritious food both during their training sessions and afterward to keep up with their caloric needs. If you are already a healthy weight, don’t try to lose weight during the competitive season. If your periods are irregular or absent, consult your doctor to check for other health complications. Visit a nutritionist to ensure that your diet provides enough essential nutrients to support your activity level.
Performance
Some women believe that they are not training enough if they are still getting their period. However, if your body can’t support the reproductive system, then you don’t have the resources to adequately recover from your training sessions either. It is impossible to reach peak conditioning when your body can’t support its basic life functions. A symptom of the female athlete triad is anemia; a condition where you do not have enough oxygen-bearing red blood cells. Without enough red blood cells to bring oxygen to your muscles, your performance will be compromised. Low bone density also increases the risk of season-ending stress fractures.
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