Periods are significantly impacting girls’ participation in sport, according to a new study that shows nearly one in five girls aged 10 to 16 are considering dropping out due to menstruation challenges.
Led by a Federation University researcher, in partnership with Swimming Victoria and Little Athletics Victoria, the first-of-its-kind study explored how the early years of menstruation impact sport participation.
Findings show 62.8 per cent of girls missed training due to their period, while 33.3 per cent missed competitions.
Symptoms like low mood, back/stomach pain and fatigue were shown to be widespread among the 464 survey participants.
A majority 91.5 per cent of girls worried about the risk of their period leaking through their uniforms, and about three-quarters of girls report being unable to change their period protection during competitions.
One 14-year-old participant said she was struggling to navigate her period and continue to train and compete in swimming.
“There really is not enough education and talk about periods for female swimmers… I feel very isolated and unsure how to manage training and swimming at competitions when I have my period because I just cannot use a tampon. What are my options here? I don’t want to stop training or miss competitions,” the participant told the survey.
“…bathers are slowly becoming more revealing as we get older and less clothing is acceptable and race suits often can’t be taken off for the whole day, so on your period you have to make a tampon last up to nine hours.”
Along with the groundbreaking findings, the study’s report includes a number of recommendations for sporting bodies and policy makers to better support young girls in sport.
They include reconsidering the cut and colour of sporting uniforms, with darker colours able to conceal period leaks easier. The report also recommends increasing access to period products in sporting facilities, and providing more education on menstruation to sporting organisations, coaches and parents.
Academic, women’s health physiotherapist and the study’s researcher Jane Strachan was driven to investigate the issue after seeing a lack of research and support for young girls navigating their period in sport.
“Girls are quietly navigating a complex and often unsupported experience,” she said, adding that “sport is so incredibly important to girls’ wellbeing and sense of connection. But many are missing out because they’re worried about a lack of access to products or changerooms.”
“I went to look at the research on this subject – but found the research didn’t exist,” Strachan said.
“Through this study, I wanted to shine a light on the lived experiences of girls – and understand what more can be done to help them keep participating.”