That time of the month

Ladies, we all know what I am talking about: that dreaded few days of the month.

Except, did you know that those few days of the month are a sign that your body is healthy?

Regularly missing your menstrual cycle can be a sign that your body does not have enough energy to supply basic functions (like getting a period). This may be a sign of Relative Energy Deficiency or RED-S. RED-S is typically caused from overtraining, under-fueling, or a combination of the two.

So why do we care? 45% of female athletes are not getting their period. Long term RED-S can lead to stress fractures, re-occurring soft-tissue injuries and poor recovery.

Other symptoms may include:

• decreased concentration

• decreased coordination

• irritability

• depression

• impaired judgement

• 2x more likely to leak urine

So what can we do?

• Eat enough to support the body’s basic functions

• Eat enough to support your training habits

• Track your menstrual cycle (there’s a lot of great apps to help with that)

• Be aware of menstrual cycle norms:

  Your period should come every 24-38 days

  Your period should last 4-8 days

  You should not have to miss work or school due to painful periods

• Be aware of reoccurring injuries and mood changes in yourself and your friends

• If you have concerns, discuss them with your primary provider

Disordered eating occurs in 20% of adult female athletes and 13% of adolescent female athletes. We need to change the narrative for women and start addressing these issues before they become long term. If you need a healthcare provider to help advocate for you or have questions, find more information here.

Lexi Noel, Doctor of Physical Therapy

Loon State Physical Therapy

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33789771/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28684389/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34181189/

https://www.acbsp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IOC-consensus-statement-on-relative-energy.pdf