Interview study, 2021
How does the menstrual cycle affect elite athletes' training and competition?
Elite athletes with natural menstrual cycles reported physical symptoms, mood changes, and reduced motivation to train. Many chose to control their cycle to reduce its effects on competition.
What they did
Researchers interviewed 17 elite female athletes about their experiences with their menstrual cycle and how it affects their training and competition.
What they found
Athletes reported physical symptoms and mood disturbances alongside reduced motivation to train during parts of their cycle. Many chose to control their menstrual cycle to reduce its impact on competition, manage weight concerns, or reduce distractions during events. Athletes felt comfortable discussing the cycle with other women but had mixed comfort with male coaches.
What it means for you
Elite athletes would benefit from better education about how the menstrual cycle affects their body and performance. Coaches and athletes would benefit from more open conversation about this topic. This study included only 17 athletes, which limits how much the findings apply to all athletes.
17
Elite female athletes interviewed
25.5 years
Average age of athletes
About the study
- Original title
- Elite female athletes' experiences and perceptions of the menstrual cycle on training and sport performance
- Authors
- Brown N, Knight CJ, Forrest Née Whyte LJ
- Journal
- Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports
- Year
- 2021
- Study design
- Interview study
- Participants
- 17
- What was tested
- None—this was a study of experiences, not testing a treatment
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/sms.13818
Topics
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