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Female athlete triad is a term used to describe three medical conditions in some young women. Osteoporosis, amenorrhea, and an eating disorder all together in young, ultracompetitive women has made the news.
Osteoporosis is a loss of bone density, seen most often in older, postmenopausal women. Amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstrual periods in premenopausal women. Overtraining or extreme sports participation can lead to a stop in the menstrual cycle for young women. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa are an increasing problem in female competitive athletes.
These three conditions in combination called female athlete triad can put young women at increased risk of stress fractures. Repetitive stress on normal bone can cause fractures. But when there's osteoporosis, amenorrhea, and an eating disorder with lack of proper nutrition added to the picture, then fractures are even more likely.
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