For some, exercise-induced amenorrhea signals that they are training at an appropriate intensity, rather than indicating an unhealthy state. Osteoporosis in Female Athletes Closely linked to amenorrhea in female athletes is osteoporosis, the third feature of the Female Athlete Triad. Low estrogen levels from amenorrhea can contribute to poor bone mineral density and premature osteoporosis in active young women. Healthy bones are important for all women, but hold special significance for the young athlete. Bone is a reservoir for calcium and phosphorus and protects the body s vital organs.
Bone also provides structure through which muscles act to provide movement.
A decrease in bone mass contributes to the disease of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis in the female athlete refers to inadequate bone formation and premature bone loss, placing the woman at risk for stress fractures and broken bones. As a result of these bone deficiencies, a woman may end up in her 20s with the bone density of a woman in her 50s. Four years later, Drinkwater s study showed that these women still did not have normal bone mass. In the International Journal of Eating Disorders, a study by Dr. Tony Towell s from the University of Westminister in London, cites similar results.