Menstruation and Sports: ASA’s female youth create awareness for coaches, athletes, and parents

Annually, May 28th marks World Menstrual Hygiene Day, providing us with an opportunity to spotlight the importance of menstrual health and hygiene in daily lives. Menstruation, often considered a taboo in society, is an integral part of human lives, and maintaining menstrual hygiene is a fundamental right for every girl and woman who menstruates.

Access to facilities and reliable supplies to manage menstruation, privacy and inclusion are still a challenge that women face during menstruation. Informed knowledge about menstrual hygiene and awareness about menstrual health are more than a need to dismantle the myths around menstruation, especially in rural areas. This would be a crucial factor in creating an inclusive environment where women feel empowered and comfortable participating in day-to-day activities.

Menstruation is often an overlooked subject, but a vital factor to take into consideration when it comes to sports and physical activities. The menstrual cycle brings challenges to female athletes, which can affect their training and performance, particularly due to cramps, bloating, fatigue, and mood swings. Every female athlete, coach, sports organisation & initiative, and parents should be educated on the importance of menstrual health and hygiene in sports. Awareness, including adequate menstrual resources, disposal, and arranging the training sessions, should be delivered to the stakeholders in sports.

Realising the need for general awareness and understanding of menstruation in sports, Anantapur Sports Academy’s (ASA) female youth participants from cohort two of the Female Athlete Leadership Programme organised a menstrual awareness event at Anantapur Sports Village. Interactive stations focusing on Period & Sport, Period Products, Nutrition, Cramps Corner and Myths & Facts were set up to raise awareness as well as the care and hygiene that needs to be followed during menstruation, particularly while participating in sports.

“As a parent, I believe everyone should be educated about menstruation to break the myths. This event was a great step, raising awareness about menstrual health, diet, and ways to ease cramps,” shares Dhasthaveni, parent of an ASA programme participant. 

More than 200 people, including coaches, athletes, parents and children, explored the five stations, learning more about the importance of menstrual health and hygiene in sports. The female youth helped the attendees understand what menstruation is, how it occurs, and the different products used during menstruation. In addition, they recommended yoga positions to relieve cramps and, most importantly, how to integrate this knowledge into sports. They highlighted the importance of diet for female athletes and the selection of appropriate menstrual products based on their sport and level of physical activity.

“Our main focus was to raise awareness among people about menstruation, most importantly on hygiene, foods, and the exercises to reduce cramps. Women must understand and be informed about menstrual health, particularly in rural villages. Our five stations were dedicated to giving informed details about period health and hygiene”, shares Nagajyothi, a female youth participant & Female Athlete Leadership Programme 2nd batch student.

The Female Athlete Leadership Programme, organised in partnership with the Generalitat Valenciana, creates an opportunity for the ASA’s female youth participants to upskill themselves with essential skills to excel in life. With the programme delivery partner, Simply Sport Foundation (SSF), a one-year module, including both offline and online sessions, was delivered to participants on topics such as Careers in Sports, Menstruation and Puberty, Financial Literacy, Leadership, and Soft Skills.

The unwavering support from the SSF team allows the young girls to learn through exposure and with feedback. Through various projects, assignments and group activities, the programme offers a hands-on experience for the girls to upskill. The menstrual awareness event was one such project that helped them explore leadership roles through event organisation.

More than just a project activity, the awareness event created a space for everyone to learn and understand menstruation and its impact on girls and women while participating in sports. By emphasising the need for care and hygiene, it contributed significantly to creating an informed community for breaking down the taboos and fostering more supportive playing spaces for all.