A young woman from eastern China has become the focus of intense online discussion after sharing how months of excessive exercise led to the complete disappearance of her menstrual cycle, raising concerns about the dangers of overtraining.
The 23-year-old, based in Zhejiang province, said she gradually became obsessed with fitness, working out six days a week for around 70 minutes per session. At first, the routine helped her lose weight and feel stronger. However, over time she noticed troubling physical changes: her periods became lighter, shorter, and eventually stopped altogether, lasting only about two hours before ending completely.
Medical tests later revealed that her hormone levels had dropped to those typically seen in women in their 50s, according to local media outlet City Express. Doctors also diagnosed her with symptoms described in traditional Chinese medicine as “kidney deficiency” and advised her to immediately stop exercising. She was prescribed large quantities of herbal medicine to help restore hormonal balance.
The woman explained that she had previously weighed 65 kilograms due to binge eating, though she did not disclose her current height or weight. She noted that during a previous hospital stay, when she stopped exercising for a month, her menstrual cycle remained normal. This time, however, the heavy training triggered endocrine disruption and insomnia. “It feels like sacrificing long-term health for short-term results,” she said.
Fan Yibing, a senior gynaecologist at Zhejiang Zhongshan Hospital, identified the condition as Exercise-Associated Amenorrhea. According to Fan, the disorder occurs when calorie intake fails to meet the body’s energy demands. “When the body detects an energy shortage, it suppresses reproductive functions to preserve basic survival,” she explained. Reduced hormone production in the brain leads to lower estrogen levels and stops ovulation.
Doctors emphasized that the condition is usually reversible if exercise intensity is reduced and nutrition is improved. Fan added that women typically need at least 17 percent body fat to maintain regular menstruation, while excessive body fat — over 32 percent — can also cause hormonal imbalance.
Liu Haiyuan, a physician at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, warned that losing more than 15 kilograms in a short period significantly increases the risk of amenorrhea. He also cautioned against using hormone-based supplements without professional guidance, noting potential links to breast cancer. In this case, Liu recommended pausing intense workouts for two to three months, then returning to moderate exercise such as yoga three or four times a week.
The story quickly spread across social media, attracting more than 15 million views on one platform. Many commenters highlighted the importance of balance. “Anything taken to extremes is harmful,” one user wrote, while another joked, “Looks like I finally have a medical reason to take it easy.”
