---
title: How does the menstrual cycle affect elite athletes' training and competition?
description: Elite athletes with natural menstrual cycles reported physical symptoms, mood changes, and reduced motivation to train. Many chose to control their cycle to r
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/elite-female-athletes-experiences-and-perceptions-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-2021/
---

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- How does the menstrual cycle affect elite athletes' training and competition?

Interview study, 2021

# How does the menstrual cycle affect elite athletes' training and competition?

Elite athletes with natural menstrual cycles reported physical symptoms, mood changes, and reduced motivation to train. Many chose to control their cycle to reduce its effects on competition.

 Early or limited evidence

17 elite female athletes (average age 25.5 years) from multiple sports

## What they did

Researchers interviewed 17 elite female athletes about their experiences with their menstrual cycle and how it affects their training and competition.

## What they found

Athletes reported physical symptoms and mood disturbances alongside reduced motivation to train during parts of their cycle. Many chose to control their menstrual cycle to reduce its impact on competition, manage weight concerns, or reduce distractions during events. Athletes felt comfortable discussing the cycle with other women but had mixed comfort with male coaches.

## What it means for you

Elite athletes would benefit from better education about how the menstrual cycle affects their body and performance. Coaches and athletes would benefit from more open conversation about this topic. This study included only 17 athletes, which limits how much the findings apply to all athletes.

17

Elite female athletes interviewed

25.5 years

Average age of athletes

## About the study

Original title Elite female athletes' experiences and perceptions of the menstrual cycle on training and sport performance Authors Brown N, Knight CJ, Forrest Née Whyte LJ Journal Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports Year 2021 Study design Interview study Participants 17 What was tested None—this was a study of experiences, not testing a treatment Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/sms.13818](https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13818)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

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