I started a thread on this in the politics forum if anyone wants to join me in a spirited debate! 
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Not everything is political.
These questions are already on the official Sports Physical form in the state where I practice, and have been for decades. They are not marked optional, but they are not marked mandatory either. They are in the same area as all the other questions such as those asking about asthma and orthopedic issues. All these questions just act as a starting point for discussion between the athlete and the doctor.
At least in my state, these questions do NOT get forwarded to the school or to the government. The only page of the Sports Physical form that gets forwarded to the school is the first pageāthe page that says 1) whether they are cleared for sports or not 2) What allergies they have 3) emergency contact numbers for their family, and 4) my signature and my office contact info. The page with the questions is NOT forwarded, NOR is the page that documents their actual physical.
Not sure how it works in any other state.
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It is performative politics because as all of you observed, this is in place in many states as a starting point. What is new is using it as a utility/doorway for other uses of that data.
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My daughter was a high school and college athlete. Every physical she had asked the same questionā¦ nothing new. I do think it is an important question for athletic departments/trainers to know because many female athletes do not get enough nutrition. And this can lead to health problems in the future.
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This information was previously requested here but apparently not specifically required. According to one school official, the information may be shared with a principal, athletic director, school nurse and/or athletic trainer, so who knows how many others would actually be privy to it. Some doctors have objected, questioning the need to know by school administration and faculty.
It caught my eye for two reasons - I now have granddaughters who may one day be required to answer such questions and my personal history with medical issues in high school. Had my Catholic school president known that I was put on the pill as an attempt to treat PCOS, I would have dealt with a lot more inappropriate comments and questions. As it was, I was assaulted by a nun who thought I was faking my symptoms and later asked if I was or had been pregnant when I returned following surgery because I my abdomen was slightly swollen for a while. A friend was kicked out of school when her pregnancy became known, and another was humiliated by a biology teacher/football coach after he overheard her talking about being on the pill. From the article, I gather that this is not just an issue for public school students but private/parochial school students are included in the requirement.
My guess is that here (and possibly in FL as well), making these questions mandatory and providing the responses to various school personnel has little to do with nutrition concerns.
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I am so sorry for what you went through in school. Not sure when you were in high school, but with few exceptions I do not think educators would treat kids the same now.
I canāt help but wonder what exactly menstrual history tells about an athleteās nutrition. Wouldnāt blood tests be more helpful ā¦ and given the number of young men with eating disorders, shouldnāt they also be monitored? Not having regular periods is an indicator of a whole lot of things other than nutrition, and I canāt believe that there arenāt better ways to monitor it. If it actually is something that should be monitored ā¦ and again, if it is, why arenāt male athletes monitored? I knew a lot of wrestlers who had horrible nutrition due to trying to make weight classes.
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Iām not sure thatās entirely true, unfortunately.
Speaking as a female athlete and having a female athlete ā¦ lack of menses is a hallmark of nutritional deficit(early osteoporosis, eating disorders or simply not enough rest given workout/ school schedules) and other problems. Additionally, as part of her college physicals blood/ urine tests were also performed.
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As I see it, the issue is not whether the athletes are being properly cared for medically, but rather that that info is disclosed to non medical personnel. My daughter was a varsity athlete in high school and the only requirement was that she have an annual physical with her doctor and get sign off that she had no conditions which prevented her from participating and competing. The school didnāt know anything beyond that.
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In my DD sport the late onset of menstruation is common. Everyone on the team were getting it around 15 vs average of 12 years old. Nobody monitored it back then
But lack of menses has other reasons, including the athlete being on birth control. Itās time to rethink this. Perhaps the doctor giving the physical should simply be asked whether the athleteās physical revealed any information that might indicate issues with nutrition. Yes or no.
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Of course they asked a dad for his opinionā¦ 
It certainly feels like a more personal reflective example if you have a female viewpoint.
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My kids participated in sports and only had to get the normal physical and exams and shots to be in the private school they attended. I canāt recall any form with Qs about Dās periods. I canāt see why any of this info is the schoolās business. ACLU should file an action to protect privacy.
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But in all likelihood, this is political. Pretending this isnāt a political issue props up the pretext that there are legitimate, non-political reasons for schools (as opposed to the studentsā doctors) to be monitoring the menstrual history of the students.
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Birth control questions are also part of the athlete physical. Perhaps you are concerned about the invasion of privacy? Giving the benefit of the doubt to athletic departments and staff; a complete physical is important in managing young athletes, their workouts, and yes stress.
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Sounds like a way to identify human beings that identify differently than what might be on their birth certificates - it also sounds like a gateway to tracking women for possible pregnancy/abortion status - for me and my beliefs this is atrocious and regardless of how my family member(s) identify I would say ānoā to any school or state requiring such invasive information - Iāve never been a ārah rahā US supporter but this really takes my level of distrust to a whole new level.
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Several people who post on this forum. For starters.
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I donāt recall ever seeing those questions on any athlete physical forms weāve filled out. Not when my kid was competing in a high level club sport or during any of her years playing two varsity high school sports. Her cycle (or lack of) isnāt anyoneās business, outside of her and her doctor. Not her coaches, athletic trainers, school staff, etc.
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