FEMALE ATHLETES AND MENSTRUATION — an overlooked narrative
Often, we start our Baala Workshop with the question: ‘Do you think PV Sindhu will play her match, if she’s on her period?’ 100% of the girls, 100% of the time shout back with a strong YES. But what does it take for a female athlete to train and play competitively while she’s on her period? How do periods affect athletes?
Our bodies are composite structures of intricate systems working in tandem with each other and each system has a direct impact on our health and well-being. Menstruation is one such integral part of a woman’s biology, and although it visits once every month with gusto (like that one super loud uncle at social gatherings who you cannot help but tolerate), it isn’t merely those 5 days when women are affected. The menstrual cycle is a process covering the majority of life, occurring EVERY SINGLE DAY. And while all women know how the menstrual agony goes, the story is slightly different for menstruators in the sports arena.
A sportsperson goes through extensive training, which is mentally taxing and physically strenuous. From reaching a certain body weight to achieving a specific physique — the goals are endless and constantly evolving. Let’s take a look at various factors that affect an Indian sportswoman’s journey.
Different phases of the menstrual cycle
We all have heard of the infamous menstrual symptoms one faces — fatigue, upset stomach, cramps, mood swings and soreness before, during and sometimes even after menstruation. But it isn’t just these symptoms that menstruators go through. There is growing evidence to prove that menstruation impacts athletic performance and training.
There are four phases of a menstrual cycle: follicular phase, ovulation, luteal phase and finally, menstruation — and different hormones secreted with each phase have varying impact, affecting one’s performance, training and joint elasticity(WHAT!?). In the follicular phase, rising levels of oestrogen increases energy and improves performances at higher intensities. While reaching ovulation, when oestrogen peaks, bone elasticity is high, making women more prone to knee injuries, specifically anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) problems in the knee joint.
Turning to painkillers and contraceptive pills
Periods can be quite an inconvenience for women who want to excel in careers such as sports and as terrible as they are, they are a sign that our body is healthy and functioning well. It can be frustrating to have severe PMS symptoms leading up to menstruation, and to avoid losing out some athletes turn to painkillers and contraceptive pills. While the former is a go-to for most women who experience period pain, taking contraceptive pills without proper consultation can backfire in some cases, leading to emergence of more problems. Sometimes missed periods are rejoiced but it could indicate deeper problems such as insufficient diet, excessive training and not enough rest, which is very common among athletes.
Another important factor to consider here is anaemia. A study indicated that in India 52% of non-pregnant women of reproductive age are anaemic, which is a leading cause of menstrual pain and complications if overlooked, and it is most of the times. Diet and nutrition for each player then becomes paramount in their overall growth and wellness.
Stigma, taboo and misinformation
There has been substantial efforts and progress in normalizing period talks, yet it is still treated as a hush-hush topic, a sort of absent presence. The lack of effective communication around it gives way to perpetuation of stigma, taboo and misinformation. Women who want to pursue a sport professionally not only have to overcome the general stigma around periods but are met with further struggles in their journeys to become the best versions of themselves in their respective fields.
The sports scene in India is rather bleak for a young girl entering it. A lot of recruits come from small towns where stigma and taboo surrounding menstruation is common. Entering a training academy can be a daunting experience as you’re predominantly surrounded by men for coaches, doctors etc. One can only imagine that no time or effort is truly given into understanding the female anatomy, with male athletes serving as reference to train sportswomen.
Many young athletes travel to various cities — both big and small — to compete in several competitions to qualify for regionals, state and eventually for the country. More often than not, women athletes have a tough time with access to proper washrooms. Many places even lack basic washrooms or do not have proper facilities and hygiene set-ups. The fear that people will see them carrying “something” prevents a lot of women from using washrooms altogether.
There have been cases where some female athletes have also been barred from training and competing on grounds of them “smelling bad” while on their periods, owing to the age-old belief that the blood that comes out of our bodies is impure and contaminated.
Psychological impact
Imagine being told that you’re “smelly” or “incapable” as a young girl. The psychological impact of being at the receiving end of such comments can adversely affect a budding athlete’s self-esteem and competitive spirit. Decrease in performance during ‘that time of the month’ is normal! However, it can imbibe self-blame with female athletes, where they may begin blaming themselves for not being able to achieve their goals or win a competition.
In India, the majority of the coaches are men who lack knowledge about playing on periods, and athletes find themselves with little to no support from them. Understanding the integrated impact of menstruation becomes all the more important in order to get the maximum benefit for the person involved and the team as a whole. The sports faculties in a few countries are now taking cognizance of the effects of periods on sportswomen and have started moving in the direction of taking menstrual cycles into account while training to make sense of health, injuries, nutrition etc. For example, the national women’s football team in the US are asked to track their cycles, around which their training and nutrition is tweaked so that their health is in the best shape.
Having conducted a workshop with young female athletes, associated with the Simply Sports Foundation, made me realize how eager they are to learn and understand their bodies, and that most don’t shy away from sensitive topics such as periods. They want to take better care of themselves and are fully capable of it! The girls in the workshop were curious and asked a lot of questions about a correct diet, how to manage pain and also about disposal methods. One thing which was quite surprising was that many of the girls did not suffer from period pain because of their regular workouts. What they need is proper resources, guidance and safe relationships to foster their curiosities and confidence.
About the Author — Amita is a student at Ambedkar University Delhi, currently doing her masters in Psychology. She aspires to be a psychotherapist. While she may read academic papers in her free time, she keeps her creative juices flowing through dance and sketching. She has been a part of Baala since 2020 and enjoys sharing this space with like-minded and zealous women who want to make the world a better place.
