Susceptibility to Energy-Related Menstrual Disturbances is Reduced with Increased Age

Abstract

PURPOSE: Although energy deficiency is known to disrupt reproductive function in exercising women, no studies have examined whether the susceptibility to menstrual disturbances is altered with increased age. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether increased age is associated with reduced susceptibility to menstrual disturbances caused by chronic energy deficiency. METHODS: A subset of twenty-four premenopausal women (12 young and 12 middle aged) from a larger study were matched according to the amount weight lost during a three month diet and exercise intervention. Menstrual status was assessed with daily urine samples and measurement of estrogen (E1 G) and progesterone (PdG) conjugates using ELISA. The occurrence of menstrual disturbances, i.e., short luteal phases, inadequate luteal phases, oligomenorrheic cycles, and anovulatory cycles was quantified according to the number of defects/number of cycles observed. Independent samples t-tests were conducted to determine if there was a significant difference between younger and older women in the occurrence of menstrual disturbances. RESULTS: The results are shown below:TableCONCLUSIONS: Older age was associated with significantly fewer disturbances in response to weight loss resulting from a diet and exercise intervention. These results suggest that factor(s) associated with increased age confer protection against menstrual disturbances caused by energy deficiency.