M.D. The female athlete triad is a syndrome that has been highly researched and publicized in recent years.
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by a decrease in bone mineral density.
It leads to fragile bones that are more susceptible to fractures. Bone growth, development and maintenance are under hormonal control. In females, the hormone, estrogen, plays a large role in this, as does proper nutrition and calcium intake. Estrogen is a hormone secreted by the ovaries in normal menstruating females. Proper reproductive and menstruating function is also under hormonal control and can be effected by numerous factors.