Menstrual function in elite speed skaters

Twenty-three female members of the United States Speed Skating Team were evaluated and followed during four years of preparation for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games. Those skaters who reported having prolonged intermenstrual intervals had the highest average menarcheal age of 14.2 years. This was significantly older than the average menarcheal age of 13 years among skaters who did not report menstrual disruption. Skaters who began intense training in late childhood tended to later menarche and prolonged intermenstrual intervals when compared with skaters who initiated their training earlier, but these differences did not reach statistical significance. Menstrual disruption in subjects during the course of these observations was unusual; although many skaters reached very high levels of training and those who were involved in pre-Olympic competitions achieved extremely low proportions of body fat content.