In equestrian sport, women are popularly thought to compete on equal terms with men. This ideal has been critiqued by studies documenting how women’s participation is impacted by gendered equestrian cultures and society more broadly. However, one physiological process has been overlooked—menstruation. This is the first study to focus specifically on the impacts of menstruation and menstrual concerns on women’s participation in horse sport and to locate those concerns within broader equestrian traditions of attire and discourses of control. The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of 328 female riding members of Pony Club Australia aged 10–17 years. Findings challenge the idea of equestrian as a sport where men and women compete “on equal terms.” In particular, they illustrate how traditional dress codes of white-/light-colored riding pants exacerbate menstrual concerns, limit/prevent participation, and pose safety concerns due to distraction. The majority (80%) of participants supported changing the formal uniform to allow darker-colored riding pants. However, longstanding equestrian associations between white pants, prestige, and respect are a barrier to the adoption and therefore normalization of period-friendly attire. While discriminatory rules or standards need to be revised, they are insufficient to challenge entrenched gendered, socio-historical, and esthetic constructions of some organized sports. The authors therefore recommend that rule changes be supported by other practical and educational initiatives necessary to create period-friendly cultures for equestrian sport.

Despite cross-cultural differences in knowledge and attitudes toward menstruation, most studies on menstruation in women’s sport have been conducted in high-income countries, such as in Europe, and none have been conducted in Africa. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of African elite women football players, and their support personnel toward the menstrual cycle and menstruation. An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to all participants (n = 564) at two African women football tournaments. Ultimately, 238 women football players, 44 coaches, 18 health personnel, and 17 referees completed it. From 317 questionnaires analyzed, 17%, 27%, 56%, and 0% of players, coaches, health personnel, and referees, respectively, knew at least one menstrual cycle hormone; 91%, 95%, and 100% of players, coaches, and referees, respectively, did not know at least one menstrual cycle phase. Over 70% of health personnel believed that menstruation negatively affects women’s performance in sports compared with 36% of players; 18%, 28%, and 18% of players, health personnel, and referees, respectively, believed that, for convenience, the menstrual cycle should be changed by drugs like contraceptives; and 54%, 61%, 62%, and 40% of players, coaches, health personnel, and referees, respectively, were confident providing advice about the menstrual cycle to teammates. Minimal knowledge of the menstrual cycle has implications on the development of menstrual cycle considerate training environments and educational materials in African women’s football. Furthermore, the relatively low perceived effect of the menstrual cycle on sporting performance and belief in the use of contraceptives may be attributable to differences in community-level religiocultural and social contexts which influence menstrual experiences, and shape behavioral expectations.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate change in bone mineral density (BMD), BMD percentile (BMDp), lean mass (LM), fat-free mass index, body fat percentage (BF%), and muscle size (mCSA) and quality (EI) in collegiate female gymnasts over a competitive season and characterize the impact of menarche on changes. Twenty gymnasts completed a validated survey to assess age of menarche. Body composition was assessed via whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans at pre- and postseason. mCSA and EI were determined from a panoramic ultrasound scan of the vastus lateralis. Pre- to postseason changes were evaluated using paired sample t tests, and strength of relationships between were analyzed via bivariate correlations and linear regression. Significant losses in body fat percentage (Δ -1.1 ± 1.9%; p = .022) and EI (Δ -5.0 ± 5.8 a.u.; p = .002) were observed. No significant changes were observed in BMDp, mCSA, BMD, LM, or fat-free mass index (p = .310–.869). Age of menarche (15.4 ± 1.5 years) was negatively correlated with Δ BMDp (r = −.454; p = .044) and Δ mCSA (r = −.658; p = .002), explaining 21% and 43% of variation in Δ BMDp and Δ mCSA, respectively. Positive outcomes of gymnastics training, such as gains in LM and mCSA, may be attenuated by delayed menarche, suggested by increased EI and decreased body fat percentage, despite no changes in mCSA or overall LM. These findings may indicate a higher priority of fat utilization within the muscle over muscle and bone growth. Considering menarche as a significant predictor for Δ mCSA, this lack of increase (despite improved EI), may signify increased injury risk resulting from team-specific training style or insufficient energy intake to support appropriate muscle growth.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in restricting daily physical activity (PA). Women’s PA levels have been disproportionately negatively affected by the pandemic, compared with men. It is important to determine how women’s PA has changed over the pandemic, and if new barriers to PA participation exist since the release of restrictions. Aims: To assess how women in southeast England changed their activity during the pandemic and postpandemic, including how barriers and facilitators to activity have changed. Methods: Three hundred and thirty females completed the first online questionnaire (during lockdown), and 139 completed the postlockdown questionnaire. Questionnaires were designed from the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire and International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Participants self-reported PA, and barriers and facilitators to exercise. Eighteen females then participated in online semistructured focus groups. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were used for questionnaire data, and focus group transcriptions were thematically analyzed. Results: Most females maintained PA levels throughout the pandemic. Significant barriers to activity were lack of access to equipment/space, limited time to exercise, limited access to social groups, and finances as well as legal restrictions, safety concerns, gender, and lack of childcare. Similarly, significant facilitators were identified during lockdown and postlockdown for access to equipment, finances, having more time to exercise, and exercising with a social group. Participants both expressed desires to return to prelockdown PA habits, but also maintain new ones that were created. Conclusion: It is evident that the pandemic affected and changed the barriers and facilitators to female PA participation. Governments and industries in the sector should focus on providing services that address these changing habits to improve activity levels in women.

Introduction: The present scientific consensus is that the menstrual cycle (MC) and hormonal contraceptive (HC) cycle only influence performance trivially. Nevertheless, athletes perceive changes in performance that they associate with different phases of their hormonal cycle. Methods: A total of 959 female athletes completed a questionnaire, of which 750 were included in the present analysis. The questionnaire included questions about demographics and experiences of the MC and HC (symptoms, perceived impact on performance characteristics). Results: In total, 55% of athletes reported a natural MC while 45% reported HC use. Meanwhile, 56% of all athletes reported a decline in perceived performance during the bleeding or inactive phase, whereas 26% of all athletes reported no changes in performance over their hormonal cycle. All athletes reported an average of 10 ± 7 symptoms during hormonal cycles. The naturally menstruating (NM) group reported more symptoms than the HC group (p < .05). The most frequent symptoms reported were abdominal pain, bloating, and mood swings. Only 7% of all athletes (4.1% in NM and 11.3% in HC) reported an absence of any symptoms. Quantity of total symptoms was associated with a perceived decrease in performance (R2 = .138, p < .05). Hormonal cycles had the greatest negative effect on mental performance with 37% reporting a large to very large effect. Conclusions: Perceived negative effects on performance were similar in both NM and HC groups while perceived mental performance (e.g., mood and attention) appeared to be most affected by both MC and HC.

This study aimed to contrast the impacts of an exercise intervention using either bounce drop jump (DJ; fast stretch-shortening cycle exercise) or countermovement jump (CMJ; slow stretch-shortening cycle exercise) on measures of physical fitness in young females. A total of 23 young females (age: 19.7 ± 1.0 years, height: 159.8 ± 4.2 cm, body mass: 54.3 ± 14.3 kg) were randomly assigned to either DJ (n = 12) or CMJ (n = 11) training, which spanned 6 weeks. Pre- and posttraining assessments were conducted for 10 m and 30 m linear sprints, change-of-direction speed, CMJ, DJ (jump height, contact time, and reactive strength index), standing long jump, triple-hop distance, and isometric strength. Apart from the variance in jump technique, both interventions were standardized in terms of total repetitions, intensity, and surface type. No significant Group × Time effect was observed in any dependent variables (all p > .05). A significant time effect was observed in 10 m (p < .001, effect size [ES] = 0.70) and 30 m (p < .001, ES = 0.79) linear sprint, CMJ height (p = .012, ES = 0.34), DJ contact time (p = .012, ES = 0.34), and triple-hop distance (p = .006, ES = 0.38). Both DJ and CMJ training interventions led to comparable improvements in linear sprints, CMJ height, DJ contact time, and triple-hop distance. These findings suggest that the duration of ground contact during intervention exercises (i.e., fast vs. slow stretch-shortening cycle) did not significantly influence initial (6 weeks) physical fitness adaptations in young females. However, extending these results to highly trained groups (e.g., athletes) warrants further investigation.

The purpose of this study was to determine symptom severity and frequency in female exercisers and athletes from a diverse range of sports who have a menstrual cycle (MC) or use hormonal contraceptives (HCs). An additional aim was to explore the perceived impact of MC/HC use upon exercise and sport performance. In total, 604 self-identifying female athletes and exercisers (M = 29.4 years, SD = 9.0) from 85 sports/activities completed a survey which included: sport/exercise participation, bleeding characteristics, HC use, symptom severity/frequency, symptom management strategies, menstrual product use, and perceived impact of MC/HC use on exercise performance. The data were subject to mixed-methods analysis. Over one third (n = 225; 37.25%) of participants reported current HC use. Ninety-five percent (95.36%) of participants experienced symptoms related to MC or HC use. Physiological, psychological, and affective symptoms were all among the most prevalent. The most frequently noted severe and very severe symptoms for all participants, MC and HC users, were abdominal cramps (36.92%, 39.32%, and 32.89%, respectively), mood changes (26.16%, 25.07%, and 28.00%, respectively), and tiredness (25.33%, 25.59%, and 24.89%, respectively). Symptom impact was self-managed through medical and/or other (cognitive/behavioral) strategies. Qualitative content analysis of the data produced four overarching themes: (a) the impact of symptoms, (b) menstrual stigma and taboos, (c) protective factors, and (d) coping strategies. In conclusion, menstruation is a multifaceted, unique experience that impacts upon sport/exercise performance. Practitioners should consider athletes’ distinct needs, including the frequency of occurrence and severity of their symptomatic experiences, when facilitating menstruation-supportive training, avoiding a “one-size fits-all” approach.

Sport officials in general, and female sport officials specifically, are underrepresented in the research. More work is required to better understand what attracts female sport officials to the role, along with what facilitates their retention. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between female sport officials’ motivations, basic needs, and intentions to remain as officials. Through an online survey, 186 female sport officials responded to (a) the Basic Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale (BNSSS), (b) the Referee Retention Scale (RRS), and (c) questions assessing Reasons for Becoming Officials. Pearson correlation tests established relationships among various subscales, and regression tests were conducted to determine whether any variables predicted RRS scores. All five BNSSS subscales significantly correlated with most RRS subscales and one Reasons for Becoming Officials subscale. Further, regression analysis revealed that increased scores on the BNSSS—specifically feelings of competence, choice, volition, and relatedness—predicted intentions to remain as officials, as measured by the RRS. Since the BNSSS predicts retention, sporting organizations should implement retention strategies that focus on building competence, volition, and relatedness among female sport officials.

There is a lack of evidence of on the impact of how sporting role models (SRM) influence adolescent physical activity (PA) and/or sport participation (SP) levels. The main aim of this review was to identify SRM-led interventions and highlight the evidence of impact of SRMs on female adolescents’ participation in PA and/or SP. A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature using key search terms was completed using electronic databases (APA PsycInfo, SPORTDiscus, and PubMed). The inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) Participants were ≤18 years old, (b) results were reported for female participants, (c) the study included an intervention arm/element, (d) an SRM or equivalent terminology was used as part of the intervention, (e) PA levels and/or SP was evaluated, and (f) peer-reviewed articles published in English. A total of 7,169 peer-reviewed articles were identified and screened. A systematic review of grey literature to identify SRM programs was also carried out through Google search engine, direct contact with relevant sporting organizations, and with authors who had written about role models, and 45 programs were identified. Identified documents were screened using the same inclusion criteria as described above. The results identified one peer-reviewed and 15 grey literature programs, all of which were deemed to be of poor quality. The programs revealed a lack of theoretical base and rigor in methodology, no objective PA or SP assessment, poor demographic context of participants and role models, and lack of evaluation.

Objectives: Women are underrepresented as participants in sport and exercise science research, and most of the research is of low quality. To reduce the gender data gap, it is imperative to understand where this bias originates. The purpose of this study was (a) to evaluate the proportion of first and last author, and editorial board gender, and (b) to explore the association between gender and quality of female-specific research methods. Method: Studies exclusively investigating female participants (2014–2021) were extracted from a larger data set and updated through 2022. First author, last author, and editorial board gender were determined (e.g., from gender pronouns on institutional profiles, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate). Where applicable, study methodology was assessed by giving each study a quality score (0–1) based on key methodological considerations. Descriptive statistics were used to describe author and editorial board gender frequencies. Analyses of variance were used to investigate the associations between gender and female-specific methodological quality. Results: Within 438 female-only studies, data revealed a greater proportion of women first authors (55%) and men last authors (62%). There was an association between women authors (first, last, and both) and higher quality score for female-specific methods across all journals (p = .00–.04). The two lowest-ranked journals for quality score demonstrated worse gender parity within their editorial board (0%–12% women). Conclusions: The results from this study show that most female-only studies were senior authored by men. However, studies led by women had higher quality of female-specific methods. Future research is needed to explore gender distribution of senior academics.