Top-level sport and menstruation: an impossible combination?
The British tennis player Heather Wadson attested her loss at the Australian Open to her period. Watson got the approval of other female athletes, and the media praised her courage. At the time, tennis veteran Annabel Croft said that women ‘suffer in silence’ because of the taboo surrounding menstruation, which is why she launched an underwear line that should prevent leaking. After winning the world cup at the 1000 meter in Calgary, Jutta Leerdam, the Dutch champion ice skater, also spoke openly about how she had stayed in bed the previous day because of menstrual symptoms.
But not every top-athlete is negative about their menstruation during important competitions. Some liken it to a sort of primal force. Dutch cyclist Leontien van Moorsel is one example, as she rode a world time-record while on her period. ‘In the week before I menstruate, my legs are always fatigued. But, once it’s here, it’s like my pain threshold is higher,’ she said about it.
Lots of research has been done on the influence that the menstrual cycle has on athletic performance. For example, you’re allegedly more agile and flexible during your period, which can be handy for sports such as yoga, ballet, and gymnastics. However, word in the professional female hockey world is that there’s a larger chance of ripping your knee ligaments while you’re menstruating, all because of that added flexibility.
To sum it up, there’s still a lot to be said about sports and menstruation. We spoke with ex-hockey-international Ellen Hoog (38)* about how she experienced her menstruation during her athletic career.
Do you struggle with your menstruation?
‘I I don’t like being on my period while exercising. Not that I’m in a lot of pain, but it makes me feel uncomfortable. During important matches, I wanted to have my full focus on hockey, and not on peripheral matters. I simply don’t do as well, am less motivated to move, and have less energy. That only counts for the first two days. Because the game kit was sometimes fully white, there was also the fear of leaking. That doesn’t improve your performance. I eventually started taking the contraceptive pill, which I’d sometimes keep taking if I knew I had an important match coming. That way, I knew for sure that my period wouldn’t surprise me. It differs from person to person, I also had teammates who said that they could perform better during their menstruation, so it might be different for everyone.’
What is it like to play important matches while you’re on your period?
‘I didn’t notice a difference in my performance. In top-level hockey, torn knee ligaments are a common injury, and there are rumors that that often happens to women who are menstruating. That was something we thought about, you didn’t want the same to happen to you. On the other hand, it’s never been proven, so we don’t know if it’s fact.’
Is menstruation talked about in the hockey world?
We could always go to the sports physician. I was still playing hockey when I stopped using an IUD, and the sports physician told me to keep a careful eye on my menstruation. Because of the rigorous training and the need for endurance - you have to perform for 70 minutes at a time at a high intensity - hockey players shouldn’t be too thin. The sports physician oversees this. Our fat percentage was measured, and if this ever got too low, we’d always be asked about our periods (A healthy menstruation cycle requires a body fat percentage of 16%, ed.). In that regard, there definitely was an interest for menstruation in the hockey team. We also talked about it amongst ourselves, which makes sense for a team of around 20 women. I do wonder what it’s like when you partake in an individual sport as a female athlete. Who, besides the doctor, do you talk about these sorts of things with?’
Do you feel like there’s a taboo on top-level sports and menstruation?
‘Sometimes I hear stories from the sports world, and I think, Jesus, we’re still a long way off. Thankfully, more and more keeps changing. I didn’t notice a taboo in the hockey world, but the topic isn’t talked about by the press or the hockey association. By the way, I never saw that as a bother.
Just before the Olympic Games, our (male) coach brought up Leontien van Moorsel and her feats during her period. He wanted to give us food for thought, and a small pep talk. I remember that this was received positively by almost all the women on my team. Our male coach had done his best to research this topic, did his best to highlight the positive side of it, and was brave enough to bring it up in front of a large group of women.’
Do you want to know when in your cycle the best moment to exercise is, and when it’s better to take it easy? Read the article on the four seasons of your cycle here.
*Ellen Hoog debuted in 2004 as attacker in the Dutch hockey team. In 2014, she scooped up four prizes: Best Player of the WK Tournament, Amsterdam Sportswoman of the Year, World Player of the Year, and winner of the Hockey World League.
