Hypothalamic amenorrhea in runners of normal body composition.

Abstract

Three amenorrheic runners of normal body weight, in whom organic disease had been excluded, were found to exhibit: (1) normal body composition, (2) low baseline concentrations of serum LH and normal concentrations of FSH, (3) normal to hyper-responsiveness of LH and FSH to GnRH testing, and (4) normal and possibly increased frequency of LH pulsations. In one of the 3 runners, the administration of naloxone was followed by a pronounced increase in the amplitude of the LH pulsations.