---
title: Silencing Period Talk Hurts Athletes
date: 2024-09-12T14:51:00-04:00
author: Jonese Austin
canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/silencing-period-talk-hurts-athletes"
section: Resources
---
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[Health & Sexuality Info](/health-info)# 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.

[Read the full article ](https://time.com/6279881/periods-sports-gender-bias/)

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

![A pink background behind a fat Latina woman wearing a sports bra and leggings. She is holding a soccer ball.](data:image/png;base64,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) 

![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics

- [ menstrual cycle](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/subject-area/menstrual-cycle)
- [ destigmatizing the menstrual cycle](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/themes/destigmatizing-the-menstrual-cycle)
- [shame](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/tags/shame)

![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** 

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## Explaining Why I Wanted to Go on the Pill

BK discusses her conversations with her mother and doctor about going on the birth control pill.

![BK](data:image/png;base64,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)

BK discusses her conversations with her mother and doctor about going on the birth control pill.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/stories-conversations/using-the-pill-to-manage-menstrual-health)

[ResourcesRead

## Ending Period Shame and Poverty in Asia

Some women in Japan and China are launching businesses, founding organizations, and creating art to combat period stigma and address period poverty.

![Ending Period Shame and Poverty in Asia](data:image/png;base64,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)

Some women in Japan and China are launching businesses, founding organizations, and creating art to combat period stigma and address period poverty.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/ending-period-shame-and-poverty-in-asia)

[Stories & ConversationsListen

## Being a Transgender Person Who Menstruates

On the "Fix Your Period" podcast, trans and non-binary artist, activist, and sex educator Cass Clemmer discusses the viral photo of themselves free-bleeding, and their experience of menstruating.

![A trans and non-binary person sitting on a bench bleeding through their pants as they hold a sign that says, "Periods are not just for women. #BleedingWhileTrans."](data:image/png;base64,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)

On the "Fix Your Period" podcast, trans and non-binary artist, activist, and sex educator Cass Clemmer discusses the viral photo of themselves free-bleeding, and their experience of menstruating.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/stories-conversations/being-a-transgender-person-who-menstruates)

[Stories & ConversationsWatch

## Muslim South Asian Writer Fariha Róisín Shares Her Abortion Story

Fariha Róisín discusses how she worked through feelings of shame around her abortion experience.

![A headshot of Fariha Róisín from the Now This video](data:image/png;base64,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)

Fariha Róisín discusses how she worked through feelings of shame around her abortion experience.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/stories-conversations/fariha-r%C3%B3is%C3%ADn-abortion-story)