REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES AND MENSTRUAL CHANGES WITH EXERCISE IN FEMALE ATHLETES

The endocrine equilibrium which regulates reproductive function in wom en can be affected by physical and psychological factors. Blood levels of hormones depend on a balance between production, metabolism and cl earance rates. Intensive physical exercise may affect this balance via different mechanisms, such as stress associated with competition, die ting, reduction of body fat and bodyweight, production of heat or hypo xia. Women who engage in regular high intensity exercise may be at ris k, as a consequence of these hormonal changes, of developing menstrual disturbances such as oligomenorrhoea, delayed menarche and amenorrhoe a. Impaired production of gonadotrophins, which leads to luteal phase deficiency and anovulation, is a common hormonal finding with exercise -induced menstrual disturbances, but several other hormones may show s ignificant alterations. In this article we have reviewed the recent li terature on the effects of intensive physical exercise on the menstrua l cycle, on some important physical parameters such as bone mineral de nsity and bodyweight, and on those hormones (gonadotrophins, prolactin , melatonin, opioid peptides and steroids) which regulate, directly or indirectly, the reproductive function in women.