The purpose of this master's thesis was to gain an in-depth understanding of how female athletes and their coaches perceive the menstrual cycle and its impact on performance and well-being, as well as to examine communication and openness to discussing this topic. The research was based on a qualitative approach, with data collected through two semi-structured interviews. The study included eight female soccer players who actively competed in the 2023/24 season of the Slovenian Women’s First Football League (1. SŽNL) and four coaches with experience in coaching teams at this level.
The results indicate that female athletes experience physical and psychological symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle, but there are significant individual differences in how these symptoms are perceived and how they affect well-being, training, and competition. It was found that communication about the menstrual cycle between athletes and coaches is often limited due to feelings of shame and discomfort, particularly when it involves male coaches or younger age groups. As athletes mature, their confidence and willingness to discuss the menstrual cycle increase. Coaches admitted that they often feel uncertain about initiating conversations on this topic due to a lack of knowledge or because they believe that athletes do not want to discuss it.
Despite the positive changes indicated by the results regarding the reduction of stigma surrounding menstruation in sports environments and society in general, the need for further normalization and destigmatization of the menstrual cycle remains. Appropriate education and increased awareness would enhance the understanding of the menstrual cycle as a natural physiological process, contributing to improved health, performance, and overall well-being of female athletes, as well as the long-term development of their sports careers. The proposed solutions are based on educating and raising awareness on this topic among athletes and coaches, developing practical guidelines for an individualized approach to training (cycle-based training), and creating strategies to foster positive and open conversations about the menstrual cycle, which would reduce reservations and contribute to better understanding and a more effective and safer training process.
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