Exercise Endocrinology in Women: Issues Across the Lifespan Symposium Introduction

Recent concerns over the risks of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women have increased interest in assessing alternative therapies to preserve the health and well-being of women as they age. Because of the dramatic changes observed in the endocrine system as women age, particularly with anabolic hormones, there is interest in the potential for exercise to promote a hormonal milieu that preserves or enhances physiological function, especially muscle and bone mass, and healthy aging. To examine this potential, the papers from this symposium assessed different but related areas of exercise endocrinology in women. The symposium addressed important work on energy balance and reproductive function, exercise and estrogen interactions on health in postmenopausal women, and how age affects hormonal responses to exercise in women. Methodological inconsistencies make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions, which highlights the need for additional, carefully controlled work in this area. Key words: hormones, physical activity, female, methodological issues