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Does Supplemental Estrogen Improve Bone-Related Symptoms of Female Athlete Triad in Female Athletes? A Critically Appraised Topic.

Author
Abstract
:

Clinical Scenario: Due to the Female Athlete Triad (Triad) being a 3-pronged syndrome, treatments can vary depending on the symptoms that clinicians focus on. With reproductive and bone health compromised, assessment and recovery methods include monitoring menstrual regularity and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans. Low levels of estrogen have demonstrated negative effects on bone mineral density (BMD). Clinical Question: Does supplemental estrogen improve BMD in athletes with Female Athlete Triad symptoms? Summary of Key Findings: Supplemental estrogen does improve BMD with estrogen patches demonstrating increased improvement compared with oral contraceptive pills. Clinical Bottom Line: Restoration of regular menstruation, improvement of BMD, and ensuring optimal energy levels is the best approach for treating Triad symptoms. Transdermal patches are a new treatment option that address both menstrual function and BMD but still require further research. Strength of Recommendation: Available studies demonstrated a level 2 evidence for supplemental estrogen (oral contraceptive pills and estrogen patches) providing improvements for bone health related to the Triad.

Year of Publication
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2022
Journal
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Journal of sport rehabilitation
Volume
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31
Issue
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2
Number of Pages
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230-234
Date Published
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2022
ISSN Number
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1056-6716
URL
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https://journals.humankinetics.com/doi/10.1123/jsr.2021-0121
DOI
:
10.1123/jsr.2021-0121
Short Title
:
J Sport Rehabil
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