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Impact of Intense Physical Activity on Puberty and Reproductive Potential of Young Athletes

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Exercise and Human Reproduction

Abstract

Individuals are becoming increasingly involved in physical activities, ranging from regular mild exercise to highly competitive performance requiring intensive and strenuous training. However, as the duration, frequency, and intensity of exercise increases, great concern and major reactions arouse regarding the deleterious effects of intensive physical activity on somatic growth, pubertal development, and biological maturation.

Intensive physical training and negative energy balance alter the hypothalamic pituitary set point at puberty, prolong the prepubertal stage, and delay pubertal development and menarche in a variety of sports. On the other hand, exercise-related reproductive dysfunction appears to be multifactorial in origin, reflecting the energy drain and deterioration of energy balance rather than the impact of intense exercise per se and is associated with deleterious effects on bone health. Recent findings underscore the endocrine role of adipose tissue and gut-derived hormones in mediating the regulation of metabolism and reproduction, providing further data on our understanding of the connection between energy homeostasis and pubertal progression and reproductive dysfunction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, University of Patras, Medical School, University Hospital, 26500, Patras, Greece

    Neoklis A. Georgopoulos MD, PhD & Nikolaos D. Roupas MD, PhD

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  1. Neoklis A. Georgopoulos MD, PhD
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  2. Nikolaos D. Roupas MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Neoklis A. Georgopoulos MD, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Morphological Sciences, University of Cordoba Department of Morphological Sciences, Cordoba, Spain

    Diana Vaamonde

  2. Division of Medical Physiology, Stellenbosch University , Tygerberg, South Africa

    Stefan S du Plessis

  3. Cleveland Clinic Foundation, American Centre for Reproductive Medicin Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Ashok Agarwal

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Georgopoulos, N., Roupas, N. (2016). Impact of Intense Physical Activity on Puberty and Reproductive Potential of Young Athletes. In: Vaamonde, D., du Plessis, S., Agarwal, A. (eds) Exercise and Human Reproduction. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3402-7_15

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