PREVALENCE OF MENSTRUAL DYSFUNCTION IN NORWEGIAN LONG-DISTANCE RUNNERS PARTICIPATING IN THE OSLO MARATHON GAMES

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of athletic amenorrhea in a wide range of long-distance runners and the relation to possible risk factors. The study group consisted of 187 long-distan ce runners between 16 and 46 years of age. Information was obtained th rough a mailed questionnaire consisting of 32 different entries, inclu ding questions on age, leanness, training history, menstrual history, performance level, stress, as well as some sociological and nutritiona l aspects. Seventy-six per cent of the responding runners had normal m enstrual function, 9.5% had minor irregularities (O), and 14.6% were a menorrheic (A), which is defined as absence of menstrual bleeding for more than 3 consecutive months the previous year. Half of the amenorrh eic group had not had menstrual bleeding at all that year. The runners with menstrual disorders (O+A) had a significantly higher incidence o f stress fractures. The most important factors associated with menstru al disorders were a feeling of conflict associated with food; age; and the age of menarche. There was no evidence that age of menarche was a ssociated with an early training debut per se, the frequency and inten sity of prepubertal training was not taken into account. All subgroups (E, O, and A) had low body mass index scores, and body composition di d not seem to vary with menstrual status within the study group. Thus a high prevalence of menstrual disorders was observed in Norwegian lon g-distance runners, a condition associated with increased training loa ds, but even more with age, menarchal age and a feeling of nutritional conflict.