Is menstrual delay a serious problem for elite rhythmic gymnasts?
A Di Cagno1, M Marchetti, C Battaglia
1University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy. alessandra.dicagno@unimol.it
The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
|November 29, 2012
Summary
Intensive training in elite rhythmic gymnasts delays menarche and increases amenorrhea risk. However, most athletes achieve menstrual cycle regularity, mitigating long-term health impacts like reduced fertility and bone density.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
- Women's Health
Background:
- Menstrual disorders in elite female athletes are often linked to intense training and low energy availability.
- Potential consequences include impaired fertility and reduced bone density.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of training loads and diet on menstrual status in elite rhythmic gymnasts.
- To compare menstrual characteristics between gymnasts and a control group of female athletes.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-one elite rhythmic gymnasts and 80 control athletes completed questionnaires on menstrual history and diet.
- Data collected included physical characteristics, training volume, and dietary habits.
- Statistical analysis assessed relationships between training and menstrual cycle characteristics.
Main Results:
- 50% of gymnasts reported amenorrhea.
- Age at menarche and menstrual irregularities correlated positively with age and negatively with amenorrhea.
- Training hours and body mass explained 43% of the variance in age at menarche.
Conclusions:
- Intensive training in young rhythmic gymnasts significantly delays menarche, increasing the likelihood of secondary amenorrhea.
- Despite delayed onset, most gymnasts eventually achieve menstrual cycle regularity.
- This suggests a minimized long-term risk to fertility and bone density.
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