--- title: Do young female athletes have more menstrual problems and PMS than non-athletes? description: Yes. Intense exercise before first menstruation delayed when girls got their period. Competitive sport increased risk of PMS and PMDD. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-disorders-in-professional-female-rhythmic-gymnasts-2019/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do young female athletes have more menstrual problems and PMS than non-athletes? Cohort study, 2019 # Do young female athletes have more menstrual problems and PMS than non-athletes? Yes. Intense exercise before first menstruation delayed when girls got their period. Competitive sport increased risk of PMS and PMDD. Moderate study design 85 girls ages 15-17 in Poland: 45 professional gymnasts and 40 non-athletic peers ## What they did Prospective comparative study in Poland involving 45 professional female gymnasts (ages 15-17) and 40 non-athletic girls the same age and location. Participants used questionnaires and daily symptom diaries to track menstrual cycles and PMS/PMDD symptoms over time. ## What they found Intensive physical activity before first menstruation was associated with delayed menarche (first period). Competitive sport promoted premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Alcohol and coffee consumption were identified as risk factors for PMS and PMDD in both groups. ## What it means for you Young female athletes, especially gymnasts, are at higher risk for menstrual problems and PMS/PMDD. This could help coaches and doctors support young female athletes. However, the sample was small (85 girls total) and specific to gymnasts in Poland, so results may not apply to other sports or countries. 45 Professional gymnasts 40 Non-athletic control girls 15-17 years Age range ## About the study Original title Menstrual Cycle Disorders in Professional Female Rhythmic Gymnasts Authors Czajkowska M, Plinta R, Rutkowska M et al. Journal International journal of environmental research and public health Year 2019 Study design Cohort study Participants 85 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16081470](https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16081470) Original abstract The aim of this research was to compare menstrual cycles, menstrual disorders, and the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in professional female gymnasts and their peers who donot practice any sport, and to identify factors causing a predisposition to premenstrual tension syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorders in both groups. The prospective study involved apopulation of 85 girls. The study group consisted of 45 professional female gymnasts (15-17 years of age) who lived inthe territory of Silesia, in the southern area of Poland. The control group consisted of 40 girls of the same age who lived in the same area but did not professionally practice any sport. The research tools included a questionnaire, a daily diary of PMS symptoms, a daily diary of PMDD symptoms, and a premenstrual symptom screening tool (PSST). The study showed that intensive physical activity undertaken by girls before their first menstruation is a menarche-delaying factor andthat competitive sport promotes premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The risk factors for PMS and PMDD were also identified, andincluded alcohol and coffee consumption. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Case-control study, 2020 How does competitive sports affect PMS, PMDD, and menstrual disorders in young female athletes? Survey study, 2019 What lifestyle and sleep habits are linked to PMS in teenage girls? Cohort study, 2015 How common are PMS and PMDD in young female athletes? Survey study, 2016 Does PMS increase the risk of stress fractures in teenage athletes? Systematic review, 2025 Are PMS and PMDD more common in highly trained female athletes than in women who don't train intensively? Systematic review, 2023 How common are menstrual cycle problems and PMS or PMDD in female athletes? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗