Approaching Euro 2025, Research Highlights Menstrual Discomfort's Influence on Female Soccer Players
Women's soccer stars gear up for Euro 2025, with focus now shifting towards the continental competition. Taking place in Switzerland from July 2 to July 27, the tournament promises top-tier sports action and a platform to shed light on unique experiences of female players, including menstrual health issues.
On Menstrual Hygiene Day, FUTPRO, an association for Spanish female soccer players, published a study revealing the impact of periods on professional athletes. Collaborating with Cyclo, a menstrual health specialist, the study interviewed over 40% of Spanish professional female soccer players.
Of these respondents, 75% admitted that period pain had negatively affected their on-field performance, while 92% reported feeling stressed due to concerns about clothing staining. Surprisingly, 77% of the clubs surveyed had never helped players adapt their training sessions to accommodate their menstrual cycles.
The findings suggest that soccer organizations must prioritize education and support for players during their periods. Previous examples of progress include the United States utilizing sports science recommendations for injury prevention en route to winning the 2019 World Cup and England's women's team securing a switch to dark blue shorts to address concerns about wearing white during their periods in 2023.
In the realm of men's soccer, stars like Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona) and Mary Fowler (Manchester City) have openly discussed periods in their professional careers. Both Arsenal (through a partnership with detergent brand Persil) and Manchester City have taken steps to normalize periods and support players by launching campaigns with period-focused brands.
These initiatives, however, only tackle the issue in developed countries. Soccer organizations everywhere should prioritize providing support for women players, especially those from less developed nations or grassroots teams. This support should extend beyond high-tech training facilities to include specialist attention toward women's players and their unique needs, such as addressing menstrual challenges and reducing the rate of ACL injuries.
The upcoming tournament, featuring powerhouses such as Spain (reigning Euro champion) and England, promises substantial prize money (€41 million/$47 million) and a potential sizeable audience in the U.S., with 19 games scheduled on Fox Sports. Behind the scenes, however, player well-being and proper support remain essential for continued progress in women's soccer.
For associations like FUTPRO, the well-being of their athletes always comes before the spectacle.
- Science must be employed to develop effective strategies for addressing menstrual issues in women's soccer, akin to the sports science approach used by the United States to prevent injuries during the 2019 World Cup.
- Awareness and understanding about menstrual health, previously discussed by football stars like Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona) and Mary Fowler (Manchester City), should be extended to less developed countries and grassroots teams, focusing not only on provision of support but also on specialist attention to unique needs of women players.
- The health and wellness of female soccer players is vital, with concerns such as menstrual challenges and ACL injuries requiring attention, just as player well-being is essential for continued growth in the sport, even as tournaments like the Euro 2025 (taking place in Spain and Switzerland) ofter substantial prizes and potential large audiences in the United States (with 19 games broadcast on Fox Sports).
