{"id":28200,"date":"2024-11-07T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leadersinsport.com\/performance-institute\/?post_type=article&p=28200"},"modified":"2025-12-15T11:00:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T11:00:37","slug":"female-athlete-health-five-top-tips-when-discussing-the-menstrual-cycle-and-other-issues","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/leadersinsport.com\/performance-institute\/articles\/female-athlete-health-five-top-tips-when-discussing-the-menstrual-cycle-and-other-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Female Athlete Health: Five Top Tips When Discussing the Menstrual Cycle and Other Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\n 7 Nov 2024 <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>Articles<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Female Athlete Health: Five Top Tips When Discussing the Menstrual Cycle and Other Issues<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n \n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Category<\/div>\n Human Performance<\/a> <\/div>\n
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https:\/\/leadersinsport.com\/performance-institute\/articles\/female-athlete-health-five-top-tips-when-discussing-the-menstrual-cycle-and-other-issues\/<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
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Esther Goldsmith and Dr Natalie Brown from Sport Wales offer their best advice for beating taboos, finding the right words, and picking the opportune moment.<\/p>\n \n \n \n

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By Esther Goldsmith & Dr Natalie Brown<\/h6>\n
Talking to female athletes can feel challenging and uncomfortable; and sometimes concerns of safeguarding practices can exist.<\/h6>\n

This results from historic perceptions of the menstrual cycle and female-specific factors<\/a> such as pelvic health being personal, secretive and related to feelings of embarrassment, shame and uncleanliness.<\/p>\n

However, female health and topics such as the menstrual cycle are normal biological functions related to hormonal control, the same as heart rate, breathing, and appetite.<\/p>\n

From speaking to practitioners and coaches, as members of the Sport Wales Female Health & Performance Team, we know there are additional influences on comfort levels when having conversations with female athletes about the menstrual cycle. For example, knowledge of the topic, appropriateness, gender of practitioner, experiences (professional and personal) and perceived relevance (both to athletes and performance).<\/p>\n

Previously reported barriers to conversation include:<\/p>\n