--- title: How does the menstrual cycle affect female elite athletes? | Niyora description: Most athletes reported menstrual symptoms that they felt harmed their performance. Two-thirds took medication to try to feel better during their cycle. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/how-the-menstrual-cycle-and-menstruation-affect-sporting-performance-experiences-2020/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How does the menstrual cycle affect female elite athletes? Interview study, 2020 # How does the menstrual cycle affect female elite athletes? Most athletes reported menstrual symptoms that they felt harmed their performance. Two-thirds took medication to try to feel better during their cycle. Early or limited evidence 15 international female rugby players, mean age 24.5 years ## What they did Fifteen international female rugby players participated in one-on-one interviews about their experiences with the menstrual cycle and how it affected their sport. Interviews were recorded and analyzed to find common themes. ## What they found Ninety-three percent of athletes reported menstrual cycle symptoms. Thirty-three percent reported heavy menstrual bleeding. Sixty-seven percent felt that menstrual symptoms harmed their sports performance. Two-thirds took medication to manage their symptoms. Common symptoms mentioned were period pain, heavy bleeding, low energy, worry, being easily distracted, and changing emotions. ## What it means for you Menstrual symptoms significantly affect how elite female athletes train and compete. This study was small (15 athletes) and qualitative, so results may not apply to all athletes. The findings show that athletes and coaches often do not understand the menstrual cycle. 93% reported menstrual cycle symptoms 67% felt symptoms harmed performance 33% reported heavy menstrual bleeding ## About the study Original title How the menstrual cycle and menstruation affect sporting performance: experiences and perceptions of elite female rugby players Authors Findlay RJ, Macrae EHR, Whyte IY et al. Journal British journal of sports medicine Year 2020 Study design Interview study What was tested None. Athletes described their existing experiences with the menstrual cycle. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101486](https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101486) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2022 Do female athletes get enough knowledge and support about their period? Study, 1995 Do women who exercise have fewer PMS symptoms? Systematic review, 2023 How common are menstrual cycle problems and PMS or PMDD in female athletes? Cohort study, 2026 Does the menstrual cycle phase affect how much physical activity women do? Survey study, 2025 Does menstruation affect how well women perform at work? Survey study, 2024 Can period-related symptoms predict whether female cyclists manipulate their periods? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗