The female athlete triad: disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis.

The Female Athlete Triad is a common clinical entity amongst female athletes. The physician caring for such athletes needs to keep the symptoms of the triad in mind and recognize their potential severity. Still more needs to be done in the areas of prevention, early detection, and early treatment. Education efforts should be focused on junior high and early high school girls because the rapid bone formation during puberty will be necessary to carry them for the rest of their lives. It is also important to note that the female athlete triad should not be used as a reason to disqualify otherwise healthy female athletes from athletic participation. Athletic participation and exercise are good and healthy, if done appropriately. Women have made great strides in the athletic realm, and it would be inappropriate to imply that they should not participate because of the risk or presence of the Female Athlete Triad.