Catherine,

My 19 year old gymnast daughter has been oligomenorrhoeaic (menstrual cycles
longer than 35 days but less than 90 days) most of the time since she reached
menarche at almost 14.  One doctor at her college frightened her with
predictions that she would develop osteoporosis if not given supplemental
estrogen, so I did a literature search on athletics and menstrual function.
A few references that your allied health professional might find relevant
are:  Constantini, N.W. and Warren M.P., Special Problems of the female
Athlete, Bailliere's Clinical Rheumatology, Vol.8, No.1. February 1994.

T.D. Noakes, and Van Gend, Marie, "Menstrual Dysfunction in female Athletes",
SAMJ, Vol.73, 19 March 1988.

Sinning, Wayne and Little, Kathleen, "Body Composition and Menstrual Function
in Athletes", Sports Medicine 4:34-45 (1987)


Hope this helps

Kris Rogers, RN, BSN, IBCLC
Crystal Lake, IL
e-mail: [log in to unmask]