Excessive Exercise Stops Periods in 23-Year-Old: Doctors Explain 'Female Athlete Triad'

• A 23-year-old girl in China experienced cessation of periods due to exercising 70 minutes daily, 6 days a week.
• Dr. Vaishali Sharma, an AIIMS-trained gynecologist, explains that excessive exercise reduces GnRH, FSH, LH, estrogen, and progesterone hormones.
• This hormonal imbalance, known as 'Female Athlete Triad' or 'Functional Hypothalamic–Pituitary Suppression', disrupts ovulation and menstrual cycles.
• Long-term effects include menstrual irregularities, decreased libido, reduced Bone Mineral Density, and increased stress hormones like cortisol.
• The condition is reversible with proper diet, adequate calorie intake, limited exercise (20-30 mins daily), and sufficient sleep.

Why It Matters: Excessive exercise can lead to hormonal imbalances, stopping periods and causing other health issues, but is reversible.