Why You Should Learn And Talk About The Menstrual Cycle

By Elizabeth Carey for DyeStat

Hey coach, let’s chat. It’s OK to talk about periods. Yes, even you, guys. 

Of course, if an individual doesn’t want to talk about their hormones and related symptoms, respect that. But what you say — and don’t say — is powerful. Coaches set the tone. What if your team culture was one that embraced, or at least acknowledged rather than shunned, the menstrual cycle? 

I get it, talking about periods makes some people squeamish. Period stigma is based on antiquated views stemming from oppressive culture and systems (ahem, patriarchy). Yet periods are an important vital sign. They are a natural process. Missing periods wave a red flag that something may be amiss, whether medically, nutritionally, or otherwise. 

What’s more, menstrual cycles affect each athlete differently. So, yes, athletes can PR when bleeding and log miles with cramps and even crush a workout with peaking estrogen and/or progesterone. So, yes, an athlete might be dealing with intense symptoms like headaches, bloating, digestive issues, and may need to take it easier on some days than others. (Remember: the best training is written in pencil and adjusted to accommodate real-life factors from day to day.) So, yes, athletes can reach their goals and potential with flowing, oscillating hormones. So, yes, menstruating athletes find and will continue to find success and longevity in sport. 

By merely mentioning periods, we coaches help counter taboos menstruating athletes face. By emphasizing periods’ significance as one marker of health and development, we empower our athletes to embrace and make the most of their own unique cycles. Silence breeds shame and confusion. Let’s not let old-people hangups hold our athletes back. 

Whether you’re a teacher, you’re an educator. Here’s a talking point to get you started: “Periods are an important rite of passage and vital sign for athletes.” Try it with your athletes, parents and administrators.

While research on menstruating athletes has historically lagged behind research on young white men, current and emerging research is shedding light on the ways training and performance may be influenced by the menstrual cycle. However, awareness of menstrual-related issues, such as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) () or the athlete triad is abysmal. One study of NCAA coaches showed that only 54 percent could identify the three components of the female athlete triad. It behooves coaches to pay attention. 

The good news is you don’t have to (and shouldn’t) go it alone. Resources (including Girls Running, the book I wrote with Melody Fairchild to address running with hormones, and this column) exist. Pro athletes and coaches like Lauren Fleshman are speaking up and out about cycles and why they’re important in articles, podcasts, and more, which you can share with athletes or captains. Is someone in your community — a health teacher, athletic trainer, school nurse, parent doctor — passionate and up-to-date on the medical and scientific details? Would they like to chat with your team? Does your school have a student-run period club? Specific camps and conferences, like Wildwood Running, exist to further these conversations with speakers who specialize in athlete-period topics. 

And, of course, encourage athletes to seek medical care. While many coaches feel like arm-chair physical therapists, psychologists and registered dietitians, we’re not often any or all of those, and it’s best to leave healthcare to licensed, credentialed experts. Especially those who understand and respect adolescent athletes. 

The most important thing to know? Athletes are whole humans, not race cars, machines, or robots. Bodies are always changing, from birth to death and day to day. In puberty, these changes — including the menstrual cycle — are more pronounced and set the stage for adulthood and a lifetime of athletic adventures. As coaches, we have the gift of perspective and the power to foster resilience, strength, and hope, which are all helpful in the long run. 

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Elizabeth Carey (https://elizabethwcarey.com/) is a writer and running coach based in Seattle, Washington. Her first book, GIRLS RUNNING, co-authored with Melody Fairchild, is available at your local book store and here: https://shop.aer.io/GirlsRunning/p/Girls_Running_All_You_Need_to_Strive_Thrive_and_Run_Your_Best/9781948007184-9934.