Female athletes, cycles, and birth control

The menstrual cycle is a fifth vital sign of health for every woman, but especially for female athletes due to their risk of experiencing the female athlete triad. Loss of a period, or amenorrhea, is a key indicator that a female athlete’s health is in jeopardy. And yet female athletes are often recommended to take hormonal birth control, for reasons ranging from (expected) improved performance to injury prevention to managing heavy periods. Here, we break down what you need to know about whether young women participating in competitive sports are better off on the Pill.