The most incredibly powerful moments in sport are almost inescapable. Whether it’s Team GB’s "Super Saturday" at the London 2012 Olympics, the Lionesses winning the Women’s Euro 2022, or Dunblane’s own Andy Murray winning Grand Slams. As a fan and as a sport and exercise scientist, I enjoyed these moments immensely.
However, for me, one of the most poignant moments in sporting history was when British runner, Dina Asher-Smith, blamed "girl stuff" for missing out on the 100m gold at the 2022 Athletics European Championships.
Another important message came when Emma Pallent-Browne visibly leaked through onto her swimsuit during a race. She has since spoken about normalising and empowering people to talk about their periods in sport.
“Finally,” I thought to myself. After years of research on this topic, here were some of sport’s biggest names, highlighting to the world the frustratingly real impact periods can have on female athletic performance, normalising something affecting many women.
The big question that drives my interest is clear: why is something that affects elite female athletes worldwide so under-studied and under-discussed?
Our research at UWS has focused on the perceptions and experiences of athletes around their period. A first-of-its-kind study examined a group of international rugby players, the results showing almost all (93 percent) experienced some sort of menstrual-related symptoms, with two-thirds believing it impaired their performance.
But looking into this at a professional sporting level is one thing: there are similar issues for amateur and junior athletes that are just as vital to explore. We know that many girls will stop participating in sports altogether long before reaching elite level, because of period-related issues and peer pressure.
For sporting organisations, athletes, or any woman taking part in sport, there are key recommendations which can alleviate the pressure of participation around that time of the month.
It might sound obvious, but menstrual cycle tracking - using anything from mobile apps, to pen and paper - can be helpful. Elite athletes can also track performance metrics to understand any impact their menstrual cycle is having on performance.
Sometimes, simple things can help. For example, period products being available on-site, whether at a home or away game, or greater flexibility around athletes' clothing – it was recently announced that women won’t have to wear white undershorts at Wimbledon.
It’s not just the physical symptoms of menstruation getting in the way of women’s sporting potential, but also the mental aspects too. If girls and women are worrying about leaks, in pain with cramps, or are stressing about whether periods will impact the team’s score, the anxiety and distraction alone can impair performance.
For me, education is key and crucial for lasting change. It’s vital, not only for the sporting environment, but also in a wider societal context. More consistent and focused menstrual education in schools could have a massively positive impact. Following research at UWS, we’ve now developed evidence-based education resources for teachers and PE teachers, helping to bridge this gap.
From a research perspective, more investment in female athletes, female athlete research, and symptom management will be incredibly important.
Fundamentally, the time is now to capitalise on the bravery of athletes such as Dina Asher-Smith and Emma Pallant-Browne, to develop the awareness and openness needed to normalise these conversations, for current and future generations of women in sport to succeed.
Dr Laura Forrest is Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS
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