Changing Periods in Sport

I recently read an article by Fiona Tomas (Telegraph 27.09.2021) in which she describes the anxiety experienced by England’s female cricketers when almost half of them started menstruating during their recent five-day test. Most of them, she reports, were uncertain about what protocols, if any, would be implemented to support them (would they be permitted more lavatory breaks?) and they all dreaded the risk involved in “being on while wearing whites”. 

As the mother of a professional runner, I am all too familiar with the anxiety female athletes face when menstruating during competitions, but I am also woefully aware of how few provisions are available for them when they are. 

By necessity, women in sport have had to find alternative ways to cope with their natural cycles; from wearing undershorts to prevent leaks to medical interventions such as taking blood-clotting medication to lessen flow and anti-inflammatories for pain. Yet, these solutions are not suitable for everyone and, more significantly, they do not address the underlying lack of awareness that permeates the sports industry. 

Not only have female sports been undervalued and garnered less coverage and funding, there has also long been a gender-bias that has dictated the focus of research done in sports health. Very little thought has been given to the physical and psychological challenges sportswomen face just by virtue of having a healthy reproductive cycle. 

However, over the past few years the success and celebrity of figures such as Simone Biles and Emma Raducanu, and trophy winning women’s football and cricket teams, have drawn overdue attention to female sport, driving up player salaries, coverage, and importantly, the attention given to the wellbeing of the players.  

The call for change in cricket in particular, was spearheaded by Tammy Beaumont, who set up women’s health group during the first COVID lockdown. The purpose of the group was to focus “on closing the body-literacy gap among players,” however, it also spurred the England and Wales cricket boards to address other critical concerns their players had about their wellbeing. One important initiative these authorities have undertaken, involves the provision of period care in their clubs combined with responsible way of disposal. And so, I am very happy to announce here that over the past week, led by the trailblazer FabLittleBag, whose passion for helping sports to attract and retain women and girls, has resulted in the Yorkshire and England cricket boards, as well as the Welsh Rugby union committing to supply their clubs around the UK with both  FabLittleBag (perfectly designed period disposal bags), and Freda’s range of sustainable period care .

For Freda and FablittleBag, this new venture progresses our existing campaign to encourage procurement managers across all industries to offer period care in the workplace, be it the office, hotel, or gym. We believe that only when period care is consideredessentialcare can society overcome the stigmatization that surrounds menstruation. The decision to supply sustainable period care in sport facilities is a simple but critical way to address the real needs of female members. Freda is genuinely excited to be part of a pioneering effort by leading members of the sports industry to make young girls and women feel seen and valued.