Abstract
Exercise was long thought to suppress female reproductive function but has been shown to have no suppressive effect beyond the impact of its energy cost on energy availability, defined as dietary energy intake minus exercise energy expenditure. To preserve reproductive function, exercising women need to maintain an energy availability (dietary energy intake minus exercise energy expenditure) of ∼45 kilocalories per kilogram of fat-free mass per day (kcal/kgFFM/day) under normal circumstances and no less than 30 kcal/kgFFM/day during weight-loss programs.
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Loucks, A.B. (2011). Exercise and the Reproductive System in Women. In: Ghigo, E., Lanfranco, F., Strasburger, C. (eds) Hormone Use and Abuse by Athletes. Endocrine Updates, vol 29. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7014-5_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7014-5_5
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