Menstrual patterns in Danish elite swimmers

Abstract

Questionnaires were given to 140 female elite swimmers from the highest ranking division in the Danish Swimming Association inquiring about their menstrual history. Eighty-nine percent completed the questionnaires. We found a very low incidence of menstrual dysfunction (16%) compared to other groups of endurance trained females. Hard physical endurance training did not seem to delay the onset of menarche among swimmers. Furthermore, no difference in adjusted body mass between a group with oligomenorrhoea and a normal menstruating group could be demonstrated. The study indicated that the influence of body mass or body fat content was a more important factor in menstrual function than the amount of training or psychological stress.