Are synchronised swimmers at risk of amenorrhoea?

Abstract

Synchronised swimming is a sport that shares certain characteristics with other aesthetically pleasing sports such as gymnastics and dance. The purpose of this investigation was to ascertain whether the highest ranked synchronised swimmers in the United Kingdom experience menstrual abnormalities, a common medical problem seen in these related activities. Twenty three members of the Great Britain synchronised swimming squad completed a questionnaire on menstrual history. Body composition and VO(2)MAX were measured in the laboratory during regular physiological screening. Three of the 23 subjects were oligomenorrhoeic and none were amenorrhoeic. All were postmenarchal. Mean estimated body fat percentage was 23%, and mean VO(2)MAX was 47.2 ml/kg/min. It appears that synchronised swimmers in the United Kingdom are relatively protected from menstrual disturbances for reasons that cannot be explained in isolation.