Alarmed by the increase in stress fractures linked to excessive weight control efforts among teenage female athletes, the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists will launch a program to educate medical professionals on the problem.
JAOG on Thursday said it will launch a program to train obstetricians and gynecologists on how to examine female athletes more effectively. The athletes, mainly in their teens, usually encounter the problem when strict weight control efforts disrupt their menstrual cycle, reducing hormones believed to have a strengthening effect on bones.
"It's important for obstetricians and gynecologists to be deeply involved in female athletes' health, and to build a framework in which young female athletes can consult doctors with peace of mind," said Tomoko Adachi, a gynecologist and executive director of JAOG. "It is our association's responsibility to educate and supply information to the athletes."