Menopause symptoms are common even in elite endurance athletes

"Menopause symptoms are common among female endurance athletes and often interfere with training and performance. A survey of women aged 40-60 who train regularly found high rates of sleep problems, exhaustion, anxiety, weight gain, and joint pain. Many athletes said these symptoms made it harder to train effectively or perform at their best. The results highlight a need for greater attention to menopause in active women.Share:"

"Regular physical activity is often linked to reduced menopause-related difficulties, especially those involving muscles, joints, and overall quality of life. At the same time, symptoms associated with menopause can create barriers to staying active, making participation in sports and structured training more difficult for some women. The research team surveyed 187 female runners, cyclists, swimmers, and triathletes between the ages of 40-60 years."

Menopause symptoms frequently affect highly trained female endurance athletes aged 40–60 and often interfere with training and performance. Reported symptoms include sleep disturbance, exhaustion, anxiety, weight gain, and joint pain, with many athletes stating these issues make effective training and competing more difficult. The sample comprised 187 runners, cyclists, swimmers, and triathletes who trained at least three days per week and three total hours weekly. Participants completed the Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS) and described symptom impacts on training. Regular physical activity can reduce some menopause-related difficulties, but symptoms still create barriers to sustained participation and optimal performance.

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