Breaking the Stigma: Women’s Soccer and Periods

We’re in 2023, and yet there is a stigma surrounding women’s soccer and periods and being able to talk about it. It isn’t easy for female soccer players to train, play games, and be on their periods. It also doesn’t help that most clubs’ staff are males, and not all clubs offer seminars to their staff to help them understand the menstrual cycle.

We can’t forget the uncomfortable and many times painful symptoms that come with periods. For example, cramps, feeling bloated, and breast tenderness. But there is a positive side: the improvement in how soccer players deal with their periods. Female athletes have used different methods while on their periods to help them avoid the negative impacts on their performance.

Depending on Period Tracking

In the past, there haven’t been many solutions regarding dealing with periods. However, technological advancements helped create many new solutions, including period tracking apps.

Today, female soccer players can find different apps to help them track their periods. It’s definitely helpful and also comforting when players know when they will get their period and how long it will last.

Chelsea was one of the first clubs in the women’s soccer world to use period tracking apps. Not only does Chelsea use period tracking, but they educate their staff as well, all thanks to manager Emma Hayes. Hayes has always advocated making life easier for her soccer players regarding their periods.

Tracking apps help clubs design training and nutrition to fit each player’s needs. In an interview with Women’s Health, Fran Kirby, a Chelsea football player, said that Chelsea uses the FitrWoman monitoring app. In the interview, Kirby talked about how periods impact the players’ performance. She said that periods “affect you so much, whether it’s your coordination or your reaction time – which is so vital in so many sports.”

Taking Birth Control

Another procedure female athletes and soccer players follow is taking birth control pills. The pills help players delay or pause their periods, which is a common practice among players. However, there is still a lot of doubt regarding whether players should use them or not.

According to Sports MD, “there are contraindications to using hormonal birth control methods in athletes at all levels. These include a personal history of blood clots or history of blood clots in first-degree relatives, known disorders in blood clotting, poor liver function, breast cancer, history of heart attack, high blood pressure, smoking, migraine headaches, or recent surgery.” So we can’t be sure whether it’s a safe option or not.

Away From White Shorts

Of course, the previous solutions are based on personal preference, but there are other ways to make life easier while on period. One of them is doing away with white shorts.

This idea wasn’t discussed before, especially with many teams including white shorts in their kits. Thankfully, as time passed and players and people like Emma Hayes started talking about how the players struggled, more teams were open to the idea. Last year, several teams in England decided to stop using white shorts. These clubs included Manchester City, Stoke City, and West Bromwich Albion Women.

Such a change surely encouraged other clubs from around the world. Not only did this change happen in England, but it also happened in the NWSL. Orlando Pride was the first club to replace white shorts with black ones. Many applauded this decision, and the players themselves are grateful that the club wants their comfort.

“The reasons behind not wanting to wear white shorts are clear, but it is, unfortunately, something that hasn’t been addressed until recently. I think it’s a big step for us as a Club to make players feel comfortable and allow us to focus solely on competing,” said Orlando Pride midfielder Erika Tymrak in the team’s statement.

Nike Leak Protection: Period Technology

The change in the girls’ soccer world didn’t stop at clubs only. Recently, Nike decided to adapt its products to help female soccer players even more. They created a new product called “Nike Leak Protection: Period.” It will lessen the risk of leaks while menstruating and being active.

This new product has been in development for years, and it is a “two-layer laminate gusset and liner that absorbs, wicks, and holds blood with a membrane that acts as an anti-leakage barrier.” However, the players will still have to wear a tampon, pad, or cup along with the shorts.

Nike has even announced that they will provide their 13 national teams partners with Nike Pro Shorts with leak protection to help the players feel more comfortable and focused.

Such changes will make all the difference in the players’ life. The stigma that surrounds periods has cut short players’ careers. It is heartbreaking that many girls stop playing soccer after they hit puberty because of their periods. The fear of having leaks while on your period makes it difficult to focus on the game and enjoy playing. So we are very grateful to everyone trying to end the stigma around women’s soccer and periods in order to improve the players’ experience.

Featured image via @orlpride on Instagram

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