p-ISSN: 1300-0551
e-ISSN: 2587-1498

Seçkin Şenışık1, Ahmet Bilgi2, Ogün Köyağasıoğlu3, Pınar Bilgi4, Özge Kozguş Güldü5, Bülent Yılmaz6, Mustafa Coşan Terek7

1Sports Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
2Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
3Sports Medicine Section, Kayseri City Training and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey
4Medical Biochemistry Section, Mersin City Training and Research Hospital, Mersin, Turkey
5Department of Nuclear Applications, Ege University Institute of Nuclear Science, İzmir, Turkey
6Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey
7Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey

Keywords: Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), ghrelin, leptin, menstrual irregularity, sport

Abstract

Objective: To explore menstrual irregularity rates in female professional basketball and volleyball players and investigate the relationship with Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), ghrelin, leptin levels and biochemical parameters.

Material and Methods: Forty-one professional female athletes and forty-one non-athlete controls aged 18-35 years participated in the study. Questioning of menstrual function has been performed and whole blood counts, AMH, leptin, ghrelin and other endocrine and metabolic parameters were evaluated.

Results: 41% of female athletes and in 24% of non-athlete controls revealed menstrual irregularities. AMH, ghrelin, leptin levels were similar in athletes and control group (p>0.05). While athletes with menstrual irregularities tend to have lower ghrelin and leptin levels and higher AMH than athletes without irregularities, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of endocrine and other metabolic parameters (p>0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between ghrelin and menstrual irregularity (r=-0.240, p=0.031) and a statistically significant positive correlation between AMH and testosterone levels (r=-0.247, p=0.025). There was no significant relationship between other parameters (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Although it was not significant, athletes were found to have more menstrual irregularities. The leading factors and preventive measures should be investigated in detail.

Cite this article as: Senisik S, Bilgi A, Koyagasioglu O, Bilgi P, Kozgus Guldu O, Yilmaz B, etal. The relationship of menstrual irregularity with AMH, ghrelin and leptin levels in athletes. Turk J Sports Med. 2021;56(4):172-9; http://dx.doi.org/10.47447/tjsm.0557

Ethics Committee Approval

The approval for this study was obtained from Institutional Ethics Committee of Ege University, İzmir, Turkey (Decision no: E.248047 Date: 03.10.2017).

Author Contributions

Concept All authors; Design All authors; Supervision MCT, BY; Materials AB, SS, OK; Data Collection and/or Processing SS, AB, OK, PB, OKG; Analysis and Interpretation PB, OKG; Literature Review SS, OK; Writing Manuscript SS, OK; Critical Reviews MCT, BY.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship and/or publication of the article.

Financial Disclosure

This study was funded by University's Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (project no. 18-TIP-001).