Module 14 - The Menstrual Cycle and Female Athlete Performance Flashcards
What is amenorrhea?
is the absence of menstruation, often defined as missing one or more menstrual periods.
What causes amenorrhea?
The absence of periods can have causes that aren’t due to underlying disease. Examples include menopause, pregnancy, use of birth control, medication side effects, delayed puberty and stress.
What is osteopenia
a clinical term used to describe a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) below normal reference values, yet not low enough to meet the diagnostic criteria to be considered osteoporotic
What are eating disorders?
An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviors that negatively affect a person’s physical or mental health.
What is the Red-S?
Relative energy deficiency in sport is a syndrome in which disordered eating, amenorrhoea/oligomenorrhoea, and decreased bone mineral density are present.
How does disordered eating affect an athlete psychologically?
They are moody and have increased anxiety and or depression.
How does disordered eating affect an athlete’s gastrointestinal (GI) ?
Athlete can be constipated or have irritable bowl syndrome (IBS).
How does disordered eating affect the endocrine system?
Decreased melatonin which causes impaired sleep which is associated with decreased cellular repair.
How does disordered eating affect hematology?
Ferritin/iron levels drop. Decreased iron leads to anemia.
How does disordered eating affect immunity?
T cell function decreases, and the body can’t fight off viral/bacterial infections.
What are T-cells?
T-cells are a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. They help your immune system fight germs and protect you from disease.
What are the two main T-cells?
Cytotoxic T-cells destroy infected cells. Helper T-cells send signals that direct other immune cells to fight infection.
How does disordered eating affect the cardiovasular system?
Resting HR increases, and HR becomes high for easy efforts.
How does disordered eating affect the menstrual cycle of females who are not on contraceptive pills, have polycystic ovarian syndrome, or are peri-menopausal?
Irregular periods (i.e spotting, irregular frequency, or missing period),
Why is it a red flag when a female athlete starts to have irregular periods?
This is a red flag that the body’s energy balance is off. Decreased energy availability means less estrogen produced by the ovaries. Decreased estrogen causes loss of ovulation and menstruation and decreased bone remodeling (bone strength).
