Silencing Period Talk Hurts Athletes

This "Time Magazine" article by Christine Yu, discusses the shame and stigma around menstruation in sports. Menstruation has often been used as a justification to keep women and menstruating people out of sports. Even today, there seems to be no space for discussing menstruation in the male-dominated world of athletic competition. This can hamper women's participation in sports. Yu urges us to change the narrative around menstruation. We must develop more research on how the menstrual cycle affects menstruating people, and we need to provide education for athletes, coaches, parents, and healthcare providers.

Yu is a journalist and author of "Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes."

But solely viewing the menstrual cycle through the lens of reproduction is reductive. It’s contributed to the tight-lipped culture around women’s health that has real consequences beyond tasteless jokes. It keeps women from understanding a key part of their body’s physiology. Girls drop out of sport at higher rate than boys during puberty, with 51% of girls leaving sports behind by age 17. Women try to control of eliminate their cycle because they believe it will make them a better athlete. They also abandon sport because they fear their cycle will get in the way of their active pursuits.

SOURCE: Time Magazine • AUTHOR: Christine Yu • LAST UPDATED: May 16, 2023