Abstract
This study was designed with a three-fold aim: to assess ovarian function of women
athletes with menstrual irregularities (AMI); to evaluate the potentiality of clomiphene
citrate and bromocriptine for the induction of ovulation in these women; and to show
that ultrasound scanning offers a suitable technique for ovarian screening in healthy
and high-performance athletes. Our small test group consisted of 11 women, mainly
track athletes, with AMI. There was no significant difference in age at menarche (13.2
yrs ± 0.2), percent of ideal body weight (92% ± 4), or percent of body fat (12.3%
± 2.8) among the subjects. Plasma estradiol values were low (mean: 22 pg/ml ± 0.8),
as were those of plasma progesterone (2.85 ng/ml ± 2.10), LH (5.6 mIU/ml ± 0.8), and
prolactin (10.89 ng/ml ± 5.56). The mean distance run per week (35 km ± 15) was relatively
high considering the presence of 4 non-runners. All menstrual irregularities were
attributed to exercise. A short luteal phase (7 days ± 1.5 for a cycle with a mean
duration of 25 days ± 1.8) was found in all subjects. We failed to observe the presence
of a corpus luteum in 9 out of 11 women. A two-month administration of clomiphene
citrate (150 mg/d for 5 days) or bromocriptine (2.5 mg/d) did not succeed in provoking
ovulation in any of these women. Ultrasonographic observations showed a continuously
hypo-estrogenic endometrium with a consecutively developing and regressive follicle.
Our data emphasize the difficulties inherent in the restoration of menstrual function
in women athletes with AMI. In addition, the usefulness of ultrasound in screening
ovarian function was confirmed.
Key words
Amenorrhea - anovulation - bromocriptine - clomiphene citrate - luteal phase deficiency
- ovulation induction
