Female Athlete Program

Female athletes have unique needs and deserve care that is made just for them.

Our Female Athlete Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado provides holistic care to adolescent girls and young women who want to feel and play their best. From nutrition and menstrual cycle support specific to female athletes to treating the female athlete triad and sports-related injuries, we support female athletes at every stage of performance.

What is the Female Athlete Program?

Our Female Athlete Program is dedicated entirely to meeting the unique sports and health needs of female athletes in one place. Our multidisciplinary team includes:

• Medical and nutrition specialists from our Sports Medicine Center 
• Gynecologic care from our Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
• Physical therapists 
• Psychologists
• Adolescent medicine specialists
• Endocrinologists

Often, specialists don't address the health of female athletes at all levels. But here, we specifically treat female athletes and the injuries or conditions that distinctly affect them at a hormonal, nutritional and musculoskeletal level. Those may include:

• Sports-related injuries
• The female athlete triad and relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs)
• Nutrition concerns and disordered eating
• Bone stress injuries and low bone mineral density
• Painful menstrual periods (dysmenorrhea)
• Heavy, irregular or delayed menstrual periods
• Sports performance concerns

What to expect during a visit to our Female Athlete Program

When you come to our program for your first visit, you can expect one-on-one consultations from:

• An athletic trainer
• A sports medicine physician
• A sports dietitian
• A pediatric and adolescent gynecologist

During this visit, you or your athlete will undergo an evaluation by our athletic trainer and sports medicine physician, Aubrey Armento, MD, which includes:

• Medical and injury history review
• Imaging and lab tests as needed
• An individualized treatment plan that can include injury management, activity modifications, cross-training and return-to-sport planning

Next, a nutrition consultation with our registered sports dietitian includes:

• A review of diet and health history
• Current nutrition and exercise habits
• Individualized nutrition goals with strategies to optimize recovery, overall health and sports performance based on you or your child’s specific nutritional needs

Finally, our experts will complete a thorough menstrual assessment. An internal pelvic exam is rarely needed during consultation by our pediatric and adolescent gynecologist, Lauryn Roth, MD. However, additional services include:

• Menstrual pattern and symptom assessment
• Imaging and lab tests as needed
• Individualized treatment plan that may include non-hormonal or hormonal therapies to promote overall reproductive health

Based on the initial findings and treatment plans, our team may refer athletes to other specialists across the hospital. Some athletes may need physical therapy while others may need mental health specialists based on their injury or condition. We’ll schedule follow-up appointments and adjust the treatment plan as needed.

Who we treat at our Female Athlete Program

We specialize in working with all female adolescent and young adult athletes to reach their goals regardless of sport, injury or condition.

Why choose us for female athlete care?

We are the only pediatric female athlete program in Colorado. Our program offers a multidisciplinary care team focused on the whole athlete. Throughout this team, we have expertise that spans physical, nutritional and psychological health to help athletes play their best.

Our comprehensive approach means that you or your athlete will get:

• Personalized treatment plans to improve performance
• A team of specialists that view you, and your care, holistically
• The only pediatric female athlete program in the region offering complete care for adolescent and young adult female athletes

Contact the Female Athlete Program

To schedule an appointment or ask questions about our program, please call: 720-777-5593