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Menstrual cycle research

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Latest research: Teachers need more support to reduce the impact of the menstrual cycle on female participation in sport

The latest stage of Welsh research into the impact of the menstrual cycle on female participation in sport has recommended that more support is needed by teachers to help improve education about the subject within schools.

An extensive survey of nearly 800 teachers from across the UK has found that only 48% of teachers feel confident in their knowledge to teach about the menstrual cycle, while almost one in four (23%) weren’t comfortable teaching the subject.

35% of teachers felt that their lack of confidence and a shortage of resources were barriers preventing more informative lessons about periods being taught within schools, while 40% cited a lack of time allotted to the matter.

The teacher research has been conducted thanks to a collaboration between Sport Wales, the Welsh Institute of Performance Science and Swansea University as the latest stage of a major project to explore and understand the various issues facing female athletes at all levels of sport.

The project began three years ago with a focus on elite athletes and has since broadened its scope more widely. 

The initial findings showed that periods are still a taboo subject within elite sport and are continuing to have a negative impact on females competing at the top-level. 

However, it was found that elite athletes tended to become better at managing their routines through experience, whereas younger women sometimes admitted they had not really made a connection between a downturn in their performance or enthusiasm for training and having their period.

As a result, the research team wanted to extend their study to review the education that’s being provided in schools about the menstrual cycle to see if there was room for improvement.  

Lead researcher, Dr Natalie Brown, explains more: “After examining how the menstrual cycle affected top level athletes in their training and performance, we wanted to take the research in the direction of exploring how a possible lack of knowledge about the menstrual cycle was affecting younger girls. 

“We wondered if more could be done to equip younger athletes with more awareness and tips for managing severe symptoms which could help them in their sporting careers, and also see whether periods were a factor in causing some girls to drop out of sport entirely. 

“We wanted to find out from teachers what is and what isn’t discussed in the classroom. We’ve found that the majority of the teaching focuses on the biological aspects of the menstrual cycle and the reproductive system, with less attention given to the social and emotional dimensions. There is a gap in information being given about how to manage debilitating symptoms.”

The latest research found that 88% of teachers reported a perceived impact on participation in Physical Education, attendance at school and girls' confidence as a result of menstruation. Meanwhile, only 18% reported teaching the benefits of exercise when menstruating.

Natalie added: “Education should focus on increasing awareness and impact on overall health and wellbeing, whilst also highlighting the benefits of physical activity to manage menstrual cycle symptoms such as stomach cramps. Light exercise, walking or yoga can help reduce the severity of pain.

“It is vital we empower girls to manage their menstrual cycle and seek appropriate help where needed. Crucially, this requires support for teachers to increase their confidence and knowledge, while teachers need to address their own discomfort when discussing and teaching menstrual education. 

“This is another area of life where COVID-19 has had an impact. With the enforcement of home schooling during national lockdowns, there is a group of young people with significantly less menstrual education than previous years.”

“It is also important to note that education in schools is only one aspect in achieving a cultural shift and reducing the stigmatisation surrounding menstruation; parental support is also paramount to normalising conversations within society and freely communicating about the menstrual cycle.”

Following the gathering of teachers’ views, Natalie will now be leading a series of focus groups with school pupils over the next couple of months so that a clearer picture can emerge about how much participation by girls in sport might be going missing because of issues around the menstrual cycle.

Natalie continued: “This is such an important and fascinating topic, about which there has been very little research done previously. It’s important for us to learn what can be done to support girls in their menstrual cycle so they don’t miss PE and drop out of sport.” 

You can read a summary of the latest findings here.