“I feel like I’m marinating in the boat…and it just makes me feel gross”: a sociocultural exploration of female rowers' experiences of the menstrual cycle

The aim of this study was to explore how socio-cultural norms and values influence female rowers’ experiences and perceptions of the menstrual cycle in sport. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted with 18 menstruating female rowers (29.2±11 years) from Ireland and the USA. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis.Five themes were identified: (1) normalisation of abnormal periods: the majority of athletes described experiencing menstrual cycle irregularities. These irregularities were viewed as ‘normal’ or even valorised within rowing subcultures, precluding athletes from seeking help; (2) ‘Is she faking it?’ The delegitimisation of menstrual cycle pain and symptoms: pain was viewed as part and parcel of rowing culture, leading to athletes silencing or suppressing their pain as well as seeking medical interventions to ‘manage away’ their symptoms; (3) stigma and fear of leakages: athletes expressed a profound fear of leakages, which was amplified by patriarchal ideals and stigmatising notions surrounding bleeding bodies; (4) gendered norms and issues of non-disclosure: the interpersonal dynamics surrounding gendered norms create and perpetuate cultures of non-disclosure; (5) period power: emergence of alternative sociocultural norms that challenge dominant ideals and expand perceptions of how the menstrual cycle is experienced and managed within sport settings. Heeding calls for more research on the menstrual cycle within sports medicine, this study extends the literature by highlighting how sociocultural influences can perpetuate harmful discourses and practices that have implications for athletes’ menstrual health and well-being. Moreover, the findings illustrate how these sociocultural norms create contexts of concealment and taboo, ultimately limiting progression towards best practice management for female rowers.