Are Risk Factors for Menstrual Dysfunction Cumulative?

Abstract

In brief That so many factors are associated with menstrual dysfunction JMBJ in athletes makes management difficult. This study compares the number and prevalence of risk factors in ultramarathon runners who had menstrual dysfunction with those in matched controls who had no history of menstrual dysfunction. Both groups had statistically similar prevalences of the risk factors analyzed, but the runners with menstrual dysfunction had significantly more risk factors. Also, significantly more of them had three or more risk factors. The results indicate that no single factor is critical and suggest that management should focus on reducing the number of risk factors.