ABSTRACT
Direct involvement of females in high-intensity exercise causes hormonal changes and also affects the menstrual cycle. The duration of the normal reproductive cycle in females is about 26-35 days and divided into different phases. In the absence of pregnancy, menstruation or vaginal bleeding occurs, about 8 days after ovulation which is followed by low estrogen and progesterone levels as well as endometrium deterioration. The purpose was to study the menstrual profile of college girls and compare them between the athletes and non-athletes. The subjects were 30 female college athletes with regular conditioning and 30 sedentary female college girls from West Bengal. The variables were Height, Weight, BMI, Menarche Age, Menstrual Age, Menstruation duration, and Flow rate history of the subjects which were measured by the self-made questionnaire validated by Professors and Doctors. The mean day of the menstrual cycle was 27.5 for athletes and 25.9 for non-athletes. The days of menstrual duration also show normal characteristics in the case of athletes and less than the nonathletes. In the case of flow rate also the athletes show less than their counterparts. The menarche ages are lying in the same age range of 12 to 15 years. More non-athletes (23) have crossed over the normal cycle of 25-28 days than the athletes (17). Athletes (27) have a more normal menstrual duration (3-5 days) than non-athletes (21). Non-athletes (8) suffer a long period of menstrual duration than athletes (1). The flow rate of the non-athletes is more than the athletes. A significant effect of exercise occurred on the menstrual profile of college girls. Significance differences were found in the case of menstrual duration and flow rate between athletes and non-athletes. No significant difference occurred in the case of menarche age between athletes and non-athletes.