The Risk of Menstrual Dysfunction Increases for Women during U.S. Army Basic Combat Training

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Women's Health
• Military Health

Background:

• Basic Combat Training (BCT) involves intense physical demands.
• Menstrual cycle changes can occur in physically active women.
• Understanding menstrual patterns in female trainees is important for health and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate menstrual changes in female trainees during BCT.
• To determine if body mass, composition, or physical activity changes correlate with menstrual interruption.

Main Methods:

• Female trainees were categorized by pre-BCT menstrual status: regular cycles (RC) or menstrual dysfunction (MD).
• Body mass, composition, and physical activity were assessed before and after BCT.
• Statistical analyses, including Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test, were used.

Main Results:

• 86% of trainees experienced menstrual changes during BCT.
• Regular cycle trainees were more likely to have at least one period during BCT (81% vs. 69%).
• Gaining body mass/lean mass and losing less fat mass were associated with increased odds of missed periods in RC trainees.

Conclusions:

• The majority of female trainees undergo menstrual alterations during BCT.
• Menstrual cycle interruptions during BCT are not associated with decreased body or fat mass.