Elite marathon runner Anya Culling has bravely shared her experience with amenorrhea, the absence of menstruation, which she initially believed was a normal consequence of her rigorous training regimen. Her journey, detailed in a recent discussion, underscores the critical issue of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and the prevalent misconception that losing one's period is an acceptable part of elite athletic performance.
Culling recounts how this health crisis significantly impacted her, and how a pivotal moment, including her coach's intervention, made her realize the necessity of addressing her hormonal health. Her story serves as a powerful call to action for better recognition and management of women's health issues in endurance sports, emphasizing the need to distinguish between optimal training and potentially harmful overtraining.
