When compared with normally menstruating but sedentary women, amenorrheic athletes demonstrate
less progesterone secretion, fewer LH pulses from the pituitary in a day, and higher cortisol levels.
Over the long term, vigorous training and moderate leisure - time activity may decrease estradiol and
progesterone secretion, 3,6,41 reduce the length of the luteal phase, 10,42 induce anovulation, 7,8,41,43 delay menarche, 4,5 and cause secondary amenorrhea.2, 12