The Hidden Challenges: Menstruation in Women’s Athletics
Photo: Jim de Ramos / Pexels
Periods don’t stop for sport. These past couple of weeks have seen many women who are participating in the Olympics speak up about their menstrual experiences.
In 1900, just 22 women participated in Paris, comprising 2.2% of the total athletes. They competed in only a few events, primarily considered "suitable" for women, such as tennis and golf. Female athletes were only able to fully participate in the Olympic Games from 1908.
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games mark a historic milestone in gender equality, with women making up 50% of all participants for the first time, the highest percentage in the history of the Games. This significant progress is a testament to the relentless determination and hard work of female athletes who continue to push boundaries and challenge stereotypes. However, female athletes have opened up about how symptoms of periods can have a strong impact on both training and performance.
In the 2012 London Olympics, women represented about 44% of the athletes, which marked significant progress, but still not equal. The conversations around women’s health, particularly menstruation, were still largely taboo, with just a few willing to discuss how these natural processes affected female athletes.
Sports and Menstruation
Despite this progress, menstruation remains one of the most important, yet under-discussed, challenges facing female athletes today. The menstrual cycle, with its hormonal fluctuations, can affect a woman’s physical and psychological performance in different ways. These effects vary from one individual to another and even from one cycle to the next.
There is a complex relationship between the menstrual cycle, hormonal fluctuations, well-being and sports performance. The female athlete triad is defined by menstrual dysfunction, low energy availability (regardless of the presence or absence of an eating disorder) and decreased bone mineral density.
The effect of the menstrual cycle on physical performance has been recognised in the past few years. Although human physiology is well known, certain elements of female physiology are unique, one of the most notorious is the sex hormone concentrations throughout the different phases of the menstrual cycle.
The concentration of female sex hormones could be responsible for altered force production that directly affects muscle strength and power. Physical performance has been postulated to change throughout a menstrual cycle due to different mechanisms; muscle activation, metabolism, thermoregulation and body composition. It is important to consider the effects of the menstrual cycle on metabolism and exercise performance as women complete in every phase of their cycle.
As we look into the future, the goal is not just to achieve gender equality in numbers but also in the quality of experience and opportunity. This includes creating environments where female athletes can openly discuss and manage their menstrual health, guaranteeing they receive the same level of support and understanding as their male peers. It also means continuing to push for equal pay, sponsorship opportunities, and media representation, so that female athletes receive the recognition they deserve.
The impact of the Menstrual Cycle on Performance
Nowadays there is a high prevalence of female participants in physical activity and sports, additionally, there has been an exponential growth in the impact of the menstrual cycle on exercise performance making it important to understand physiological and psychological differences and address specific nutritional needs for women.
The impact of not knowing the menstrual cycle’s effect on performance is twofold; Elite female athletes will continue to suffer the effect on the menstrual cycle, instead of this being used as a potential advantage. Studies are still done on male athletes because there is a lack of knowledge on the unknown impact of menstrual cycles on performance outcomes.
Female Olympic athletes have been true representatives of the changes that are happening in our modern society, not only from a point of view of practising and excelling at sports but also in the roles of women in our contemporary society. They became stronger, and more athletic, training hard under the same conditions as men so they could achieve the same goals and glory.
Most females are balancing their studies with sports, or the role of wife and mother in their families. Many women have been allowed to break barriers regarding racial, sexual orientation, cultural and religious issues all over the world, winning not only medals and recognition but also the hearts of many admirers.
Since their first participation in the 1900 Olympic Games, until now female Olympic Athletes have been attracting the world's attention with their power, decisiveness and resilience.
Breaking Taboos
These Olympic Games are not only a celebration of athletic prowess but also a strong testament to the resilience and strength of female athletes. While the conversation around menstruation and its impact on performance has gained much-needed attention, it’s essential to recognize that some women face even more tricky challenges as they compete while pregnant or shortly after giving birth.
Shout out to the most iconic examples
Azerbaijani archer Yaylagui Ramazanora, who competed in Paris 2024 while being 6 months pregnant.
British sports shooter Amber Ruther participated in Paris 2024 three months after giving birth and was awarded a silver medal.
Elinor Baker competed days after finding out that she was pregnant in 2020 in Tokyo, winning silver.
U.S. runner Alysia Montaño, competed in the 800 meters at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in 2014 while eight months pregnant.
As society becomes more open and informed about the realities of menstruation, taboos are gradually being broken. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, it is witnessed not just the athletic prowess of female athletes but also their courage to express issues that have been silenced for too long.
An increasing number of female athletes have been transmitting their thoughts and feelings about this common occurrence. Our athletes are not just competing for a price; they also compete for the recognition and respect that comes with being fully understood and supported in their unique physiological experiences. By breaking these taboos, female athletes are paving the way for a future where menstruation is no longer a hidden challenge but an accepted and managed aspect of sports performance.
As we celebrate the achievements of female athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics, let’s also celebrate their resilience in facing the hidden challenges of menstruation. Their strength, determination, and courage are shaping the future of sports and as well it is challenging societal norms and paving the course for a more inclusive and supportive environment for all women.
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