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Don't Ignore the Dangers of
Female Athlete Triad

Dr. Omer IIahi
Orthopedic Surgeon
The Methodist Hospital

At its earliest beginnings, one of the fundamentals of sport has been to do whatever it takes to win. Girls' and women's participation in sports is generally a positive and rewarding experience. But a win-at-all-cost philosophy can take a hefty toll, putting them at risk for irreparable physical damage to their bodies, and in rare cases, put them at risk for female athlete triad.

What Is It?
Female athlete triad is a serious health problem that involves three conditions – an eating disorder, absent or irregular menstrual periods, and low bone mass. Although each condition can occur independently of the others, an athlete who suffers from one element is more likely to also experience the others.

"The loss of bone mass from the female triad can be permanent and irreversible, forever predisposing the athlete to suffer from both stress fractures from intense training as well as post-traumatic fractures during competitive events," says Omer Ilahi, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at The Methodist Hospital.

An eating disorder resulting in inadequate calorie intake can disrupt the menstrual cycle. Some athletes incorrectly view not having a period as a positive, but in reality, it's a sign of low estrogen levels, which can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis.

"Insufficient nutrient intake may lead to internal organ damage, which may also be permanent and negatively impact athletic performance, as well as quality of later life," says Ilahi, who specializes in sports-related injuries.

Symptoms of each part of the triad can range from mild to severe, and they don't necessarily all occur at the same intensity. For example, an athlete may have a mild eating disorder but severe menstrual period disruption and moderate bone loss, or some other combination.

Who Is at Risk?
Competitive female athletes in sports that place undue emphasis on a lean physique and low body weight or that require frequent weight checks are at risk. These may include gymnasts, figure skaters, ballet dancers, distance runners, swimmers and divers. Other risk factors include:

Pressure to win at all costs from parents or a coach.
Exercising more than is necessary for the sport.
Lack of social interaction with friends because training takes up all of the athlete's free time.

What Are the Signs?

Absent or highly irregular periods
Weight loss to an abnormal extent
Fatigue
Stress fractures and frequent or recurrent injuries
Excessive dieting
Sleep disturbances
Cold hands and feet
Binge eating and induced vomiting

How Is It Treated?
Counseling from a physician, nutritionist or counselor can help athletes develop a healthy eating plan that provides all of the vitamins and nutrients they need. Eating frequent snacks and including recovery time in a training schedule can help. If menstrual cycles don't return after a change in diet and exercise routine, birth control pills or other medications may be prescribed to help prevent losing any more bone strength.

For a physician referral or to schedule an appointment with one of our expert physicians, call 1-888-899-2970.

< Fall 2009