The female athlete

Over the past 30 years, the number of women participating in organized sports has grown dramatically. Several forms of menstrual irregularities have been described in the female athlete: primary and secondary amenorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea, short luteal phases and anovulation. The incidence of menstrual irregularities is much higher in activities where a thin body is required for better performance. The hormonal pattern seen in these athletes is a hypothalamic amenorrhoea profile. There appears to be a decrease in gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulses from the hypothalamus, which in turn decreases the pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and shuts down stimulation of ovary. Recently, another type of amenorrhoea has been described in swimmers which is characterized by mild hyperandrogenism. Athletes with low weight are at risk of developing the female athletic triad, which includes amenorrhoea, osteoporosis and disordered eating. Athletes with this triad are susceptible to stress fractures. Other issues include the pregnant athlete. Intensive exercise during pregnancy can cause bradycardia. Safe limits of aerobic exercise in pregnancy depend on previous exercise habits. Infertility, which may develop with exercise, is probably reversible with reduction of exercise or weight gain. High impact sports activities may produce urinary incontinence. Oestrogen replacement therapy is often prescribed in amenorrhoeic athletes, but bone loss may not be completely reversible.