Author(s): SUZUKI, N., SAMESHIMA, A., WATANABE, R., Institution: TAKUSHOKU UNIVERSITY, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 1639

INTRODUCTION:
Menstrual education typically begins in elementary school, but many women lack sufficient knowledge and struggle with menstrual-related issues. Research suggests that post-menarche education is often inadequate. Among female athletes, a lack of awareness regarding menstrual irregularities caused by energy deficiency, fatigue fractures, and amenorrhea can result in delayed intervention. Therefore, educating athletes about menstruation and its related challenges is crucial for their health and performance. This study aims to assess the impact of a menstrual education program on female athletes awareness and understanding of menstruation.
METHODS:
The study involved seven female athletes (mean age: 19.9±1.1 years) from a university womens judo team. Educational materials were developed under the supervision of an obstetrician-gynecologist, based on prior research and literature on female athletes. The program consisted of two lecture sessions held one month apart, with assessments conducted before each session.
A questionnaire was used to evaluate the following aspects:
• Self-management skills
• Self-efficacy
• Perceptions of menstrual pain (e.g., "Menstrual pain is a natural part of being a woman")
• Understanding of menstruation (scored on a 10-point true/false scale)
RESULTS:
The analysis revealed that menstrual knowledge significantly improved between the first (5.7±2.6) and second (7.7±2.2) assessments. However, no significant differences were found in self-management skills (29.1±3.8, 28.7±4.9), self-efficacy (8.4±3.6, 8.7±5.6), or perceptions of menstrual pain (24.9±14.1, 23.9±6.5).
CONCLUSION:
The results suggest that menstrual education programs can enhance knowledge about menstruation among female athletes. However, self-management skills and self-efficacy did not show notable improvements. Since self-management is closely linked to self-efficacy, further investigation is needed to determine effective educational strategies.
Previous studies highlight the importance of expert guidance, peer support, and advice from family members in promoting self-management of menstrual health. Given the short duration of this study, Q&A sessions were incorporated to provide immediate support. Future research should adopt a longitudinal approach to assess the long-term effects of menstrual education on athletes health behaviors.
This study demonstrated that a menstrual education program can improve menstrual knowledge among female athletes. However, no significant changes were observed in self-management skills or self-efficacy. To encourage long-term health behavior changes, future research should focus on optimizing the duration, frequency, and content of menstrual education programs. A longitudinal study is also needed to evaluate the program’s impact on menstrual symptoms and self-management skills over time.