Why don't we talk about menstruation and sports?

The News Minute | January 22, 2015 | 12.26 pm ISTBritish tennis player Heather Watson’s comment that her performance in the Australian Open on Tuesday was one of those “girl things”. This kick-started a debate on menstruation and the impact it has on women’s performance. Former British champion Annabel Croft talks to The Guardian about her own apprehension that when she played, her period would stain her clothes.The Guardian reports: “As a teenager on the tour, “constantly staying in host families”, wearing “those little white skirts” on court, Croft was “so terrified of leaking” that her mum sent her “this hideous pair [of underwear], like a shower cap. It did the job.” Period-related stress obviously made quite an impression on Croft because she now has her own line of leakproof underwear, called Diary Doll. Very popular with businesswomen and sportswomen, such as “horseriders doing shows with those tight trousers”.”Croft says that menstruation was never discussed at all. But in contrast with team sports, such as hockey, the opposite was true. On the women’s hockey team, The Guardian reporter says: “Indeed, menstrual cycles are monitored, as part of (hockey player Hannah) Macleod’s training, by the women’s strength and conditioning coach, Ben Rosenblatt. His inbox must be curious, because each player has to email him “on day one”, says Macleod. The routine began 18 months before London 2012. “It’s something we didn’t want to take any chances on. You get to the final of an Olympics, you want to control every aspect of your performance.”Tweet