Glossary · Physiology & Health
When the period stops – a signal, not a goal
Amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstruation – primary amenorrhea, when a first period has not occurred by age 15 to 16, or secondary amenorrhea, when periods stop for at least three consecutive months after menstruation has already begun. A common cause in young, highly active women is functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, in which the body responds to sustained energy deficiency by suppressing hormone production.
In aesthetically oriented sports such as ballet, a markedly higher rate of menstrual cycle disturbances is reported than in the general population – studies describe figures of roughly 40 to nearly 70 percent of affected athletes, depending on age group and sample. In young dancers, this often shows up as delayed first menstruation or absent periods during intensive training phases, for example before performances or auditions. A key concern is that a missing period is sometimes misread within dance culture as a sign of discipline or "good training condition", even though it usually points to insufficient energy availability – a central component of the concept of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). In the long term, amenorrhea is associated with lower bone density and an increased risk of bone stress reactions.
Because missed periods are often kept quiet or downplayed in dance settings, CENIT e.V. is committed to de-stigmatizing the topic and framing it as a warning sign to be taken seriously rather than a minor detail. Talking about it openly and early, while keeping energy availability, training load, and recovery in view, can help prevent long-term consequences for bone health and hormonal balance.
This entry serves to convey knowledge in a prevention context and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or advice. For an absent period, we recommend consulting professionals experienced in dance medicine – for example through ta.med's referral network or the resources provided by IADMS.
Gordon CM, Ackerman KE, Berga SL et al. Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017;102(5):1413–1439. doi.org/10.1210/jc.2017-00131 · Mountjoy M et al. The IOC consensus statement: beyond the Female Athlete Triad – Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Br J Sports Med. 2014;48(7):491–497. doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2014-093502 · IADMS Resource Paper: Bone Health and Female Dancers. International Association for Dance Medicine & Science. iadms.org
