Prevalence Of Menstrual Dysfunction Among Female Runners Competing In The 2020 US Olympic Marathon Team Trials

Abstract

PURPOSE: High levels of psychological and/or physical stress can alter menstrual function. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare perceived stress levels, training volumes, anthropometrics, and incidence of disordered eating behaviors between eumenorrheic (E) and amenorrheic (A) and oligomenorrheic (O) female participants in the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials. METHODS: Female runners who qualified for and competed in the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials were contacted via Instagram direct message. A link to a 34-question survey was provided. Survey data included anthropometrics, current and past marathon times, training practices and mileage run in preparation for the race, history of eating disorder(s), occurrence and frequency of menstrual cycles for the previous 12 months, and perceived stress during the 3 months leading up to the race. RESULTS: 146 participants completed the questionnaire. Runners were categorized as O/A (n = 24), E (n = 84), or other (n = 38), based on self-reported frequency of menstrual cycles. Twenty-four participants were classified as O/A; (13 and 11 runners reported O and A, respectively). Women who were pregnant, lactating or using of hormonal birth control that could alter menstruation within the previous 12 months were classified as "other". CONCLUSIONS: Perceived stress levels, training volume, and BMI were not different between O/A and E runners. Similar to previous research, eating disorder history and purposeful energy restriction was higher in O/A compared to E runners.