Abstract
Study Objective
The purpose of this study was to assess the menstrual cycle, menstrual disorders and
premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMS/PMDD) in girls and young
women participating in competitive sports. The impact of PMS/PMDD symptoms on the
quality of life was also analyzed.
Design
The prospective study encompassed 125 girls and young women with the aim to determine
the presence of menstrual disorders and the prevalence of PMS/PMDD.
Participants
The studied group was composed of 75 female athletes aged 16 to 22 years. The control
group included 50 healthy girls and young women who did not practice competitive sports.
Setting
The studied athletes and the controls prospectively evaluated their 2 consecutive
menstrual cycles by using a questionnaire.
Interventions
The research tools were a purpose-built questionnaire, a daily log of PMS symptoms
according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' guidelines,
and a daily log of PMDD symptoms based on the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, diagnostic criteria.
Main Outcome Measures
To determine the impact of competitive sports on the menstrual cycle, menstrual disorders,
and the prevalence of PMS/PMDD in girls and young women.
Results
Intensive physical exercise delayed menarche. PMDD was diagnosed in 8% and PMS in
42.4% of all respondents. The prevalence of PMDD did not differ significantly between
the groups (9.33% versus 6.00%). PMS was significantly more frequent among athletes
than among controls (49.33% versus 32%, P = .045). The prevalence of PMS correlated significantly with mean age (P = .00001) and age at menarche (P = .03) in athletes. PMS was more frequent in older athletes and in girls with older
age at menarche.
Conclusion
Competitive sports, older mean age, older age at menarche, length of sporting career,
and intensity of training are conducive to PMS. The prevalence of PMS increases with
the duration and intensification of competitive exercises.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 06, 2015
Footnotes
No competing financial interests exist. The authors report no financial, personal, political, intellectual, or religious conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the manuscript.
The aim of this research project was to assess the menstrual cycle, menstrual disorders, and PMS/PMDD in girls and young women practicing competitive sports. The impact of PMS/PMDD symptoms on the quality of life was also analysed.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
