The role of professional sports in the development of menstrual function and associated disorders in female adolescents

In Russia, 2024 has marked a significant push for the integration of sports into daily life. Currently, approximately 70 million people in the country participate in physical activities, with children’s and youth sports experiencing rapid development. Numerous new sports facilities are being built across the country. As more young athletes are entering professional sports, studying the impact of prolonged and intensive physical training on the reproductive health of young female athletes has become a pressing concern for obstetricians and gynecologists.

It is well recognized that the age at which regular training begins can significantly affect menstrual cycle disturbances. Early exposure to intensive physical activity, especially during the onset of puberty, can negatively impact the hormonal regulation of the reproductive system in adolescent girls. It is crucial to maintain a balance between training and rest during adolescence to avoid overtraining and energy deficiencies. This raises the question: Which sports have the greatest impact on menstrual dysfunction and contribute to long-term adverse effects on female health?

A review of the literature shows that the study of female professional sports has been actively pursued for the last 25–30 years. Numerous studies have been published on the reproductive health of female athletes. However, these studies have generally focused on a narrow age range and involved a limited number of participants. These limitations make systematic reviews and meta-analyses difficult, particularly regarding the pubertal and early reproductive periods across different sports.

A search of PubMed and eLibrary databases did not uncover recent (within the past five years) studies that could answer our questions comprehensively. As a result, we analyzed global literature to identify which sports require more frequent gynecological monitoring and potentially a precision-based approach for young female athletes.