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Supporting athletes experiencing menstruation

Source articles: “Everyone was sort of just like ‘ew’”: Adolescent athletes’ experiences of menstruation in sport (tandfonline.com)

The recommendation

Overall, athletes felt there was not enough support available for dealing with menstruation due to stigma and lack of education. (Keil et al. 2023)

Many athletes experience physical and emotional symptoms during their menstrual cycle, which they perceive impacts their performance. More support in the form of education for athletes and coaches is important to reduce the stigma and have open conversations about menstruation in sport.

What we know

While menstruation is highly individual, many athletes experience physical symptoms such as stomach cramps and lower back pain, or psychological symptoms such as increased anxiety about potentially leaking.

Many perceive this as having an impact on their training and competition, for example, due to lower energy levels, less motivation, mental stress or reduced competitive focus and drive.

Regardless of age or level, athletes can also often feel uncomfortable discussing their menstrual cycle with their coach, in particular male coaches.

Insights for coaches

Teacher with solid fill
Reduce stigma through education 


Build good coach-athlete relationships

  • To support women and girls adequately it is important to try to remove the stigma associated with menstruation and ensure everyone is well educated.
  • Greater understanding of the menstrual cycle can help you and your athletes mentally prepare and adjust if needed.
  • Consider including information on different pain management techniques.
  • Consider education sessions for athletes and coaches as a group to help normalise menstruation in sport.
  • Be aware that athletes may be more open to speaking to you about menstruation if you start the conversation.
  • Provide access to menstrual products tailored to your athletes’ needs/sport.
  • Make sure alternative clothing options (shorts, dark colours) are available if needed.
  • Understand that for many athletes, the coach-athlete relationship is more influential than your coaching style in terms of their willingness to discuss menstruation with you as their coach.
  • Create an open and safe environment where athletes feel comfortable discussing their menstrual cycle.
  • Make sure athletes know you care about them as  person – this can help them feel more able to discuss their menstrual cycle.
  • Be approachable about other matters, as this can also help athletes feel more willing to discuss menstruation and its impact.

More information

Read the full research paper or learn more about the modern approach to coaching on the Australian Sports Commission website.
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