Female endurance athletes may experience irregularities in their menstrual periods as intense exercise can affect hormone levels and cause missed periods. The changes in a woman's body that occur as a result of intense forms of exercise are known as female athlete triad. Talk to your doctor about ways exercise has been affecting your menstrual cycle.
Features
Female athlete triad features symptoms such as disordered eating, amenorrhea, or absent menstruation, and osteoporosis. Eating disorders that a female athlete is at risk of include bulimia and anorexia nervosa, as certain foods may be avoided to keep weight low for competition. When your weight drops to an unhealthy level, you may begin to notice irregularities in your menstrual cycle and a drop in your estrogen levels.
Effects
According to the Center for Young Women's Health, low estrogen levels can affect your body's ability to absorb calcium and contribute to bone loss. When you are not eating enough calories and exercising at high-intensity levels, you can suffer from amenorrhea. Estrogen regulates the menstrual cycle and when its levels drop, you can experience missed periods. If you are a teenage endurance athlete, intense exercise may delay the onset of your first period.
Prevention
To prevent female athlete triad, eat a well-balanced diet that includes fats, proteins and complex carbohydrates. According to the Center for Young Women's Health, you should get a minimum of 1,300 mg. of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D each day. Between workouts, you should include days of recovery where you limit intense forms of physical activity.
Treatment
If you are an athlete, maintain a menstrual calendar. Keep track of when you get your period and how long it lasts. If you are missing periods or note any other irregularities, contact your physician. Your doctor may recommend hormone replacement medications to treat the condition. If you feel any discomfort during your period and worry about how it affects your sports performance, talk to your doctor about taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain medication to treat your symptoms.
