female athletes

[adrian]

Hi there, im here wanting to know more about smth. friend, an athlete..........she told me she only has her period every half a year, i dont understand why does she only have perios after such a long time while non female athlete friends have it quite frequently. and, She is very very short for her age, she's 16 and she's 155 cm only.

[Joesportstalk]

umm, I think the womens section would be better to answear this one LOL

[Heather Z]

Low causes this, its called amennorhea (sp?)

[DianaB]

If's she's got really low BF, she doesn't get it regulary b'coz her body does not have enough fat to hold a pregnancy. She may have a small enough change in BF now and then to get one, that's likely why it's a semi annual event.
If her BF is in a normal range, she needs to see a gyno ASAP if she is over 16 years old.
Joe dude, your married with kids, c'mon, talking about Aunt Flo can't freak you out that much.
d.

[adrian]

so does that mean i should get her to eat more? i think its low body fat couse her boobs are FLAT!...and her BMI shows that she's underweight

[DianaB]

BMI is outdated and pretty useless way to measure body composition, unless you are obese. You can be at 8% BF and be in excellent health with loads of lean muscle, or you could be in very poor condition holding very little lean mass. Not having periods alone is not a sign of poor health, not getting them and being chronically underweight is.
You said she's an athlete, it happens to girls who are athletes.
Now if she is not an athlete and just really skinny, she should see a nutitionist and get on a proper eating plan.

[adrian]

but she's so short 156 cm only at 16 years old...if she's fat + short..that will look real funny..LOL

[DianaB]

but she's so short 156 cm only at 16 years old...if she's fat + short..that will look real funny..LOL

You said you think she's underweight, which one is it?
Short + fat + no period+ over 16=problem (maybe, only a dr. can make a diagnosis)
short+tons of lean mass, low bf (usually under 10%)+no period+over 16= low bf, althlete (so you said initially)
short+little lean mass, low bf+no period+ over 16=possible problem, see a dr.

[adrian]

nono, she is ..short ,little lean mass, athlete, over 16, underweight, low bf , no period. You said she need to eat a little more, and what i meant was, if she ate more, she will grow fat and it will look funny....short + fat = Looks like an egg

[Joesportstalk]

If's she's got really low BF, she doesn't get it regulary b'coz her body does not have enough fat to hold a pregnancy. She may have a small enough change in BF now and then to get one, that's likely why it's a semi annual event.
If her BF is in a normal range, she needs to see a gyno ASAP if she is over 16 years old.
Joe dude, your married with kids, c'mon, talking about Aunt Flo can't freak you out that much.
d.

doesn't bother me at all.

[DianaB]

nono, she is ..short ,little lean mass, athlete, over 16, underweight, low bf , no period. You said she need to eat a little more, and what i meant was, if she ate more, she will grow fat and it will look funny....short + fat = Looks like an egg

Won't grow fat on a proper nutrition plan.
If you are really concerned, have her speak to her doctor. The only compostion I can imagine from your description is one of a distance runner (and only b'coz you mention athlete). Can't make any other recommodations for you.
dianab

[boricua3205]

come on it's a natural part of a woman's makeup..

With that being said, set check out the section regarding Primary amenorrhea.

http://patients.uptodate.com/topic.asp? ... ocrin/9299

[boricua3205]

P.S. Definitely want to have an ob-gyn check it out.