Delayed menarche and amenorrhea of college athletes in relation to age of onset of training

JAMA. 1981 Oct 2;246(14):1559-63.

Abstract

Age at menarche and menstrual periodicity of 21 college swimmers and 17 runners were studied in relation to the age of initiating training. The 18 premenarche-trained athletes had a mean menarcheal age of 15.1 +/- 0.5 years, whereas the 20 postmenarche-trained athletes had a mean menarcheal age of 12.8 +/- 0.2 years, similar to that of the college control subjects, 12.7 +/- 0.4 years. Each year of training before menarche delayed menarche by five months (0.4 years). Of the premenarche-trained athletes, 61% had irregular menstrual cycles and 22% were amenorrheic, whereas 60% of the postmenarche-trained athletes had regular menstrual cycles and none were amenorrheic. Training increased the incidence of oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea among both premenarche- and postmenarche-trained athletes. Metabolic and hormonal changes consequent to an increased lean/fat ratio may explain these findings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Amenorrhea / etiology*
  • Body Weight
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Menarche*
  • Oligomenorrhea / etiology
  • Physical Education and Training
  • Running*
  • Sports Medicine*
  • Swimming*