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From: jnp@calmasd.GE.COM (John Pantone)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Bushmen
Message-ID: <2310@calmasd.GE.COM>
Date: Tue, 14-Jul-87 19:35:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: calmasd.2310
Posted: Tue Jul 14 19:35:05 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 17-Jul-87 05:46:08 EDT
References: <4505@ihlpa.ATT.COM> <2453@uwmcsd1.UUCP>
Organization: G.E.- Calma R&D, San Diego, CA
Lines: 15
Summary: Dancers

Shan D Duncan writes:
> Add to his points above.  The reason I heard for the cessation of menses
> among female athletes is a very low body fat percentage (the estrogens being
> STEOIDS and fat soluble... perhaps?).

Correct. This was first discovered among dancers (ballet) and has been given
the name Terpsicore's syndrome (terpsicore being a dancer, not a person).  The
recent "you can't be too thin" fad has created a new rash of Terpsicore's
syndrome cases. The cessation (not always temporary) of menses is only one
of many symptoms, included are heart murmmurs, calcium deficiencies and hair
loss (accompanied by dry skin).
-- 
These opinions are solely mine and in no way reflect those of my employer.  
John M. Pantone @ GE/Calma R&D, Data Management Group, San Diego
...{ucbvax|decvax}!sdcsvax!calmasd!jnp          jnp@calmasd.GE.COM