09/17/2026
Even before I started my physical therapy doctoral program, I knew I wanted to work in women’s health.
But when it came to my own pelvic health, I had a mixed experience with providers, and a lot of important questions went unanswered.
First, some definitions...
Energy Availability is the energy your body has left for essential functions (hormone production, bone health, immune function) after accounting for exercise and activity. It’s primarily about calorie intake versus output, but sleep and stress management play a role too.
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) occurs in athletes when there isn’t enough energy available to support those essential functions.
Low Energy Availability (LEA) puts people, especially athletes or very active individuals, at risk for bone injuries, GI dysfunction, urinary leakage, cycle irregularities, fertility challenges, and decreased performance.
Athletes and highly active people have higher energy requirements than those who are more sedentary (but we should all be moving daily for our health 😁).
LEA is also a source of stress on the body. It can disrupt the autonomic nervous system, raise cortisol, and make it harder to manage stress overall.
Why does this matter for your pelvic health?
• LEA can decrease gut motility, causing constipation, which increases pressure in the pelvis.
• LEA can negatively impact hormone and cycle health, affecting fertility and the ability to conceive.
• LEA in female athletes is linked to stress urinary incontinence, on top of the pelvic floor’s already increased load from training.
Fitness and performance are about more than lifting heavy and running hard. Training falls under the umbrella of overall health, alongside fueling, stress management, and sleep.
LEA/RED-S is something I myself experienced personally, not just something I know clinically about. Stay tuned for my story in Part 2b!
Thank you to for the photo!! 📸
Edited with the help of AI for grammar and clarity — content and story are my own. This is educational, not individual medical advice.