'It is your superpower, it is something that males don't have... a period is a good reflective barometer of good athlete health'

"The menstrual cycle can tell sportswomen a lot about her overall health"

"How does the menstrual cycle affect an athlete's performance? One obvious answer to that question comes to mind: Period."

"After all, mention of a woman's period is a full-stop on a conversation for many. And that can be even more true when it comes to female athletes and performance."

The menstrual cycle provides important information about a sportswoman's overall health, with variations in hormones and symptoms reflecting physiological status. Changes across the cycle can influence energy, recovery, and performance capacities for athletes. Menstruation itself is often the immediate, visible manifestation linked to performance concerns. For many people, mentioning a woman's period halts conversations and can carry stigma or discomfort. That stigma can be especially pronounced in sports contexts, where performance expectations and communication barriers intersect. Recognizing menstrual patterns can help identify health issues and inform training, recovery, and competition planning.

Read at Independent