Abstract details
| Abstract-ID: | 1910 |
| Title of the paper: | Female Sex Hormone Variations in High-Level Japanese Female Badminton Athletes |
| Authors: | NAKAO S.1, BOUVIER J.2, MARTIN C.2, HAUTIER C.A.2 |
| Institution: | 1 Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2 Université Lyon 1, LIBM, Inter-university Laboratory of Human Movement Sciences, UR 7424, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France |
| Department: | 1. Institute of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2. LIBM, Inter-university Laboratory of Human Movement Sciences (UR 7424), F-69622 Villeurbanne, France |
| Country: | Japan |
| Abstract text | INTRODUCTION: The menstrual cycle is a complex hormonal rhythm lasting 25 to 38 days, marked by variations in estrogen, progesterone, LH, and FSH, which regulate ovulation and also influence cardiovascular, neuromuscular, and metabolic functions, with possible effects on athletic performance (1). Up to 40% of elite female athletes report a decline in form during certain phases of the cycle. Intensive training can lead to energy deficits associated with the female athlete triad: menstrual disorders, low bone density, and low energy availability (2). Even with regular cycles, hormonal disturbances can occur. A better understanding of hormonal variations is therefore essential for optimizing training and preventing injuries. This study analyzes sex hormones in high-level Japanese female badminton players. METHODS: This study included seven high-level Japanese female badminton players who were not taking hormonal contraception. After obtaining their consent, their body composition was measured at the start of the experiment under standardized conditions. The length of the menstrual cycle was estimated using a questionnaire covering the previous three months in order to plan assessments during the menstrual, ovulatory, and luteal phases. Three blood samples were taken to analyze the concentrations of estradiol, FSH, LH, and progesterone by fluorescent enzyme immunoassay. The data were then statistically analyzed and presented as mean ± standard deviation using JMP software. RESULTS: The athletes had a history of frequent stress fractures and, for many of them, menstrual disorders. Their cycles were generally irregular, and hormone profiles indicated that these high-level athletes often had atypical cycles. The expected increase in progesterone was rarely observed, suggesting ovulatory disturbances in the majority of participants. CONCLUSION: Menstrual cycle length did not reliably reflect ovulatory function in these high-level Japanese female badminton athletes. Most participants showed absent or attenuated luteal progesterone elevation, consistent with frequent ovulatory disturbances in this population. These findings highlight the limitation of relying solely on self-reported menstrual regularity to assess reproductive function. High-level Japanese female badminton athletes have a high prevalence of anovulatory cycles, even when their menstrual cycle length appears normal in previous months. These findings indicate that hormonal monitoring may be useful for identifying menstrual disorders in high-level female athletes. Reference 1) Meignié et al. 2021; Front Physiol. 2) Barrack MT et al. 2013; Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. |
| Topic: | Sports Medicine and Orthopedics |
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