The Elite Athlete Menstrual Health Report has revealed shocking gaps in knowledge and support in this area.
The report was devised by 1,500m Olympian and coach Laura Weightman and Project RED-S founder Pippa Woolven. In collaboration with menstrual health researcher Dr Natalie Brown, and the Women’s Sport Trust Unlocked Programme.
Menstrual health research
The survey was completed by 159 elite, junior and senior athletes (aged 18+) from a range of activities. Together they represent over 100 different sporting organisations across the UK.
The majority of those surveyed (82%) stated that their menstrual cycle had impacted their training and/or competition. However, only 11% had adapted their training and/or competition around their cycle.
While more than a fifth had irregular natural menstrual cycles, half of the women did not receive any support in this area from their National Governing Bodies (NGBs).
In addition, three-quarters did not feel supported by their NGB in relation to female physiology and topics such as breast health, pregnancy, or choice of contraception.
Identifying gaps in knowledge
The aim of the survey was to identify gaps in knowledge and support relating to elite athletes’ menstrual health. It also aimed to provide a follow-up report containing…
