My Life is Vital™ - Do You Have The Female Athlete Triad

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Do You Have The Female Athlete Triad

Vital Healthcare Group

Do you participate in competitive sports? If you’re an active teenage girl and exercise at high levels, talk to your doctor about the female athlete triad.

What is the female athlete triad?

The female athlete triad is an increasing problem among teen girls today that contributes to early bone loss and painful fractures.

The female triad refers to three factors that may be harmful to teen girl athletes:

Osteopenia (early bone loss)
Amenorrhea (loss of menstrual periods)
Eating disorders.

Who’s at risk for female athlete triad?

Today many teen girls excel in sports and exercise at high levels. But teen girls who are overly concerned about body image or being at a low body weight have an increased risk for some health problems.

Researchers have found that teen girl runners are at higher risk for fractures, especially during very active training periods.

Teen girl athletes who train intensely are at greater risk for menstrual disturbances and stress fractures. Some research shows teen girls who run track and field and have stress fractures are likely to have a combination of late onset of menstrual periods, menstrual irregularities and low bone density.

Ask about a bone density test

These findings suggest that female athletes in intense training may need a higher level of bone density than other women need to avoid stress fractures.

It’s recommended that teen girl athletes have a bone density test, especially if they have a high level of training such as those who run and those who have had a stress fracture.

How does weight affect female athlete triad?

Most teen athletes are concerned about their body weight and shape. Many teens stay on a strict diet to keep their weight low.

Avoiding meat to increase weight loss is a common practice among some teen athletes. Yet, researchers have pointed out that avoiding key nutrients could lead to less than adequate amounts of protein, iron, calcium, and zinc in the diet.

What can I do to prevent female athlete triad?

If you are at risk for the female athlete triad, it’s important to review your risk factors for bone loss and minimize or correct what you can.

Be aware of the training effects on your growing body and correct this if you lose your menstrual periods or if your body fat decreases.

Athletes with menstrual disorders have lower estrogen levels, which often leads to lower bone mass. Findings show that a young woman who hasn’t menstruated in four years may have the bone density of a fifty-year-old woman, which increases the chances of painful fractures.

What dietary steps should I take?

Increase calcium in the diet (or through supplementation), and get plenty of calories to avoid having too low body fat or weight. Extreme leanness or a body fat below 12 percent for the female athlete is incompatible with strong bones.

Ask your doctor about a bone density test annually to assess your bone mass. If there is a fracture, check with your gynecologist about ways to correct irregular periods. Consulting with a sports medicine specialist may also be helpful. Many times non-weight-bearing exercise, such as swimming, may be prescribed so you can maintain aerobic fitness while the fracture heals. Medications to improve bone strength may also be useful.