The Impact of Menstrual Cycles on Athletic Performance
Gabrielle Thomas
In the competitive world of sports, where every ounce of strength and mental focus counts, there’s a quiet but significant factor that often goes unnoticed: menstruation. For female athletes, navigating their menstrual cycle isn’t just about dealing with cramps and inconvenience; it can profoundly influence their performance, training routines, and even their overall well-being.
Menstruation affects each woman differently, but its potential impact on athletes is universal. Hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle can lead to changes in energy levels, mood swings, and alterations in muscle strength and endurance. Many athletes report feeling more fatigued or experiencing decreased motivation during certain phases of their cycle. For instance, a study among elite female soccer players revealed that more than 87% of participants experienced decreased power and increased fatigue during menstruation. Additionally, over 66% noted that their reaction time and recovery were also impacted.
Take Alex Morgan, for example, a renowned female soccer player. She explains how her period significantly impacts her performance on the soccer field:
Alex Morgan
“Being a professional athlete and having your period, it can be very difficult to deal with. You have to push through, and at the same time, you can't take any days off because your period affects your training.”
This highlights the challenges that menstruation poses for many female athletes, who often find themselves needing to train even harder to compensate for its effects on their performance.
However, the struggle with menstruation isn’t limited to dealing with physical symptoms alone. Another layer of complexity arises for some athletes, particularly in disciplines like ballet, where extreme physical demands and aesthetic pressures intersect. Many ballerinas experience amenorrhea, the absence of menstruation, often as a result of severe calorie restriction and malnutrition. In their quest to achieve a lean physique, these athletes sometimes push their bodies to the point where their menstrual cycles cease altogether. This condition underscores a distressing reality: the sacrifices made for athletic excellence can sometimes come at the expense of fundamental aspects of health.
Amenorrhea in ballerinas is a stark reminder of the tightrope female athletes walk between pushing their limits in training and maintaining their health. While this issue can also affect male athletes, its impact on menstrual health uniquely challenges female athletes, making their careers more demanding. Women not only have to give their all in the game, but they also have to navigate the delicate balance between performance and well-being, which can produce stress and further impact their performance.
Furthermore, the stigma surrounding menstruation persists in sports: some athletes feel uncomfortable discussing their cycles openly, fearing it may be perceived as a weakness or an excuse. This reluctance can lead to athletes downplaying their struggles or pushing through pain and discomfort unnecessarily.
Zoe Hobbs, Michelle-Lee Ahye, and Elaine Thompson-Herah
Despite these challenges, there is a growing movement to empower female athletes by raising awareness and advocating for better support. Coaches and sports organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of understanding menstrual cycles and the impact of factors like malnutrition on training and competition planning. Providing access to menstrual products, creating supportive environments for open dialogue, and accommodating individual needs are steps in the right direction.
Athletes like Serena Williams and Simone Biles have been vocal about their experiences, leveraging their popularity and influence to normalize conversations around menstruation in sports. Their openness encourages other athletes to prioritize their health and well-being without shame or embarrassment.
Serena Williams
As we strive to better support female athletes, it’s crucial to embrace menstruation as a natural aspect of life and address the unique challenges it brings. Recognizing how factors like malnutrition can exacerbate menstrual issues and fostering more inclusive and nurturing environments in sports is essential.
Simone Biles
Every female athlete deserves the chance to excel, regardless of where she is in her menstrual cycle. By promoting education, advocacy, and empathy, we can ensure menstruation and related health issues aren’t silent barriers but manageable factors for athletes. Ultimately, it’s about empowering each athlete to compete confidently and comfortably, free from unnecessary limitations. So, when you witness a female athlete giving her all, remember she’s not just facing opponents; she’s also navigating the complexities of her own body. Her determination speaks volumes about her strength and resilience, serving as a powerful inspiration for young girls everywhere, showing them what's possible despite any challenges they may encounter.
References:
https://time.com/6279881/periods-sports-gender-bias/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36540911/
