Why Do Young Female Athletes Lose Their Periods?

Posting Date: 06/29/2001

Ken: There was an article in our local paper about a study of young female athletes that found even though they seemed to be in excellent shape, they stopped having their menstrual cycle. This caused a lot of problems.

Dr. Dean: It?s like going through menopause. I think when nature sees a female body that?s stressed it says, this is not a good time to get pregnant. So the body turns off ovulation. This means there is no menstrual cycle, which means, like the menopause, there is a risk for thinning of the bones and all the other things that come with it. The medical term for this is amenorrhea.

I?m not thrilled by this great emphasis on athletics in school. Of course it?s better than drugs, but I just don?t think it?s been shown to improve the character of our children. Fitness is something you want people to have their entire lives.

I?m a person who is turned-off by sports because my experience in high school and college was one that was presented as highly competitive and a win at all cost-type activity. I found that a very negative atitude. I avoid organized sports because of this. I still am active, however.

But in young women, you do have to be very careful. The reaction by the body may have to do with how low the body fat goes in young athletes. This can throw the whole system into over drive.

But we?re not exactly sure whether it?s just body fat. But definitely, young girls who have reduced their body fat a lot have become anorexic; their periods stop and we think there is a psychological barrier that they don?t want to become fertile and grownup ?- this is part of the psychology of anorexia. I think that?s a valid concern and something to look out for when you have young daughters.

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