Evaluating and treating exercise-related menstrual irregularities.
Menstrual abnormalities, from a few skipped periods to a complete absence of menses, are extremely common in both athletic and nonathletic adolescents and women in their early 20s. Exercise-related menstrual abnormality is linked with hypothalamic pituitary axis dysfunction and is a diagnosis of exclusion. In athletes, treatment of secondary menstrual abnormalities and associated health concerns, such as bone density, may include medication and restriction from activity.
Harmon
Kimberly G
KG
Departments of Family Medicine and Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98125, USA. kharmon@u.washington.edu.