Abstract details
| Abstract-ID: | 1905 |
| Title of the paper: | Menstrual cycle-related symptom management in elite female endurance athletes: a qualitative study of strategies, constraints, and support needs |
| Authors: | Brown, N., Swainston, S., Steel, K.A., Chrismas, B.C.R., McGawley, K. |
| Institution: | Swansea Unversity |
| Department: | Sport Science |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Abstract text | Purpose: Menstrual cycle symptom prevalence and perceived impacts in athletes have been well documented in recent years. However, less is known about how symptoms are actively managed within elite training and competition contexts. The current study aimed to address this issue by describing menstrual cycle-related symptom management practices among elite female endurance athletes and examining the contextual factors shaping implementation of these practices in high-performance sport settings. Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted to explore cycle-related symptom management. Participants were recruited globally to capture diverse perspectives, and only those rating at least two cycle-related symptoms as ‘severe’ in a pre-interview survey were included. Nine international female athletes (aged 28.3±4.9 y), representing eight countries and six endurance sports, completed the semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis following six iterative phases of familiarisation, coding, theme generation, review, definition and reporting. Results: Eight of the nine athletes reported tracking cycle timings and at least one symptom or physiological metric. Tracking was commonly used to anticipate bleeding and interpret changes in perceived readiness to train, but athletes described limited symptom-specific management options beyond pain-focused strategies (e.g., analgesics and heat application), and situational training modification. Athletes frequently described bloating and breast pain as difficult to manage, with few strategies to overcome these discomforts perceived to be known or effective. Bleed management strategies and product choices were shaped by individual needs (i.e., heaviness of bleeding), sport demands, cultural norms, access during travel and competition, knowledge of options, and personal preference. Experiences of support from coaches, sport scientists and medical practitioners to help manage the cycle-related symptoms in sport varied, and some athletes reported uncertainty or dissatisfaction when receiving advice about hormonal contraception as a symptom management strategy. Conclusions: In this sample of elite female endurance athletes experiencing severe cycle-related symptoms, cycle tracking was common but symptom management practices beyond this were often limited and highly individual, with variation in perceived support provided by coaches and support staff. These findings identify a need for applied, sport-relevant research on feasible cycle-related symptom management options and for improved application into practice within female athlete care systems. |
| Topic: | Mentoring/Coaching |
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