Pregnancy &
Diving
::
Risk for Women
Divers
::
Menarche
::
Menopause &
Osteoporosis
::
Breast Implants
::
Breast Feeding
::
PMS
::
Postpartum
Diving
::
Gender
Differences
Menarche
At the onset of
menses the girl
usually has
reached 95% of
her terminal
height, most
often reaching
full adult size
and stature
within 1-2
years. There is
a phase of rapid
fat deposition
in this 13-15
year old period,
sometimes with a
significant
decrease in
power and
aerobic
capacity.
Performance
measures peak at
age 13 and then
level off and
decline. For
some, this
becomes a
problem in the
management of
heavy scuba
gear. Minimum
size for comfort
with
conventional
scuba gear is 45
kg (105-108 lb.)
and 150 cm ( 60
inches). There
is ossification
of long bones in
this period and
concerns
directed to the
possibility of
nitrogen bubble
localization in
the growth
plates. This
ossification
(closure of
growth plates)
takes place one
to three years
sooner in girls
than in boys,
varying with the
bone involved.
Young divers
have several
metabolic
disadvantages.
They become
hypovolemic (low
blood volume)
much more
rapidly than
adults, generate
more metabolic
heat and burn
more energy from
a larger surface
area to body
mass ratio.
Girls get colder
more quickly
than older women
under similar
environmental
conditions,
there being a 20
fold increase of
conductivity
into water.
Greater thermal
protection is
needed for the
young diver and
the importance
of a properly
fitted wet suit
is stressed.
