The menstrual cycle and football: The experiences of female African football players
The menstrual cycle is a normal biological process in females. However, it is often the reason why females tend to be excluded from football medicine research. Consequently, our understanding of the menstrual cycle and football performance is still limited, especially in female African football play...
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| Format: | research article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor and Francis Group
2022
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| Online Access: | https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5330 https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2021.2005252 |
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| author | Nonhlanhla S. Mkumbuzi Senanile B. Dlamini Fidelis Chibhabha Fredrick M. Govere Lucinda Manda-Taylor |
| author2 | Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre (HPALS). Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town. Cape Town, South Africa;c African Evaluation and Research Development, 28 Trefnant Rd, Ormonde, Johannesburg, 2091 |
| author_facet | Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre (HPALS). Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town. Cape Town, South Africa;c African Evaluation and Research Development, 28 Trefnant Rd, Ormonde, Johannesburg, 2091 Nonhlanhla S. Mkumbuzi Senanile B. Dlamini Fidelis Chibhabha Fredrick M. Govere Lucinda Manda-Taylor |
| author_sort | Nonhlanhla S. Mkumbuzi |
| collection | DSpace |
| description | The menstrual cycle is a normal biological process in females. However, it is often the reason why females tend to be excluded from football medicine research. Consequently, our understanding of the menstrual cycle and football performance is still limited, especially in female African football players. The study aimed to explore female African football players’ current and historical menstrual cycle status, menstrual symptoms, lived experiences, and perceptions of the menstrual cycle. Participants completed demographic questionnaires and the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire. The main findings were that 90% of the players did not use contraceptives, likely due to socio-cultural factors at community level. Most of the players had access to their preferred choice of sanitary product; however, 36% used alternatives such as old rags during their periods, likely because they could not always afford their preferred choice. The most commonly reported symptoms during menses were abdominal cramps (53%), headache (41%), mood swings (41%) and irritability (47%). Further, players reported irritability (48%), mood swings (52%), and breast tenderness (48%) in the week before their period. These symptoms can affect training and competition; therefore, team support personnel should be aware of the menstrual cycle’s implications for female African football players and their effect on athletic performance and well-being. Additionally, team support personnel ought to be mindful of female African football players’ socio-economic and religio-cultural contexts and their interaction with biological processes such as the menstrual cycle and contraceptive use. |
| format | research article |
| id | ir-11408-5330 |
| institution | My University |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | Taylor and Francis Group |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ir-11408-53302022-12-20T14:54:35Z The menstrual cycle and football: The experiences of female African football players Nonhlanhla S. Mkumbuzi Senanile B. Dlamini Fidelis Chibhabha Fredrick M. Govere Lucinda Manda-Taylor Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre (HPALS). Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town. Cape Town, South Africa;c African Evaluation and Research Development, 28 Trefnant Rd, Ormonde, Johannesburg, 2091 Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre (HPALS). Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town. Cape Town, South Africa;c African Evaluation and Research Development, 28 Trefnant Rd, Ormonde, Johannesburg, 2091 Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine, Midlands State University. P. Bag 9055, Senga Rd, Gweru, Zimbabwe African Evaluation and Research Development, 28 Trefnant Rd, Ormonde, Johannesburg, 2091 Department of Health Systems and Policy, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi, Private Bag 360. Chichiri, Blantyre 3 Menstrual cycle Women’s football Female African football players Low and middle-income setting Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire The menstrual cycle is a normal biological process in females. However, it is often the reason why females tend to be excluded from football medicine research. Consequently, our understanding of the menstrual cycle and football performance is still limited, especially in female African football players. The study aimed to explore female African football players’ current and historical menstrual cycle status, menstrual symptoms, lived experiences, and perceptions of the menstrual cycle. Participants completed demographic questionnaires and the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire. The main findings were that 90% of the players did not use contraceptives, likely due to socio-cultural factors at community level. Most of the players had access to their preferred choice of sanitary product; however, 36% used alternatives such as old rags during their periods, likely because they could not always afford their preferred choice. The most commonly reported symptoms during menses were abdominal cramps (53%), headache (41%), mood swings (41%) and irritability (47%). Further, players reported irritability (48%), mood swings (52%), and breast tenderness (48%) in the week before their period. These symptoms can affect training and competition; therefore, team support personnel should be aware of the menstrual cycle’s implications for female African football players and their effect on athletic performance and well-being. Additionally, team support personnel ought to be mindful of female African football players’ socio-economic and religio-cultural contexts and their interaction with biological processes such as the menstrual cycle and contraceptive use. 1 7 2022-12-20T14:54:34Z 2022-12-20T14:54:34Z 2021-11-10 research article https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5330 https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2021.2005252 en #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE# Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Zurich, Switzerland;Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Science and Medicine in Football 2473-4446 #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE# open Taylor and Francis Group |
| spellingShingle | Menstrual cycle Women’s football Female African football players Low and middle-income setting Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire Nonhlanhla S. Mkumbuzi Senanile B. Dlamini Fidelis Chibhabha Fredrick M. Govere Lucinda Manda-Taylor The menstrual cycle and football: The experiences of female African football players |
| title | The menstrual cycle and football: The experiences of female African football players |
| title_full | The menstrual cycle and football: The experiences of female African football players |
| title_fullStr | The menstrual cycle and football: The experiences of female African football players |
| title_full_unstemmed | The menstrual cycle and football: The experiences of female African football players |
| title_short | The menstrual cycle and football: The experiences of female African football players |
| title_sort | menstrual cycle and football: the experiences of female african football players |
| topic | Menstrual cycle Women’s football Female African football players Low and middle-income setting Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire |
| url | https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5330 https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2021.2005252 |
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