Victoria University (VU) and menstrual equity charity Share the Dignity have joined forces to better understand the period anxiety felt by women and girls in sport and if providing period products at sport facilities could alleviate this.
While some sport clubs provide products, it is not a mandatory policy in Australia. The Victorian Government has rolled out free period product vending machines in public places however, this does not apply to sport settings.
To better understand the full scale of the issue, VU and Share the Dignity are calling on women and girls to share their experience with period products in sporting facilities.
Susan Alberti Women in Sport Chair, VU Professor Clare Hanlon, has extensively researched sport accessibility and participation for women and girls and is leading this new study. She believes the provision of period products could influence whether a person participates in sport.
"There is an urgency in understanding if period anxiety exists in sport, what are the effects of providing period products, and how government and the sport and leisure industry can support people who menstruate to enable them to play sport.
"A UK study shows the majority of respondents who menstruated skipped playing sport at some stage because of their period, primarily due to the fear of leaking and staining their clothes. We need to understand the Australian situation," Professor Hanlon said.
Feedback from this study will help inform policy recommendations for period products in sport settings.
Period anxiety is an issue Share the Dignity Founder, Rochelle Courtenay, is familiar with. Their 2024 Bloody Big survey identified areas where girls experienced period anxiety. This new piece of work will build on this by focusing on sport and sporting facilities.
"Our Bloody Big Survey revealed that 68 per cent of respondents have missed sports due to their period, with 76.5 per cent citing a fear of leaking as the main reason. This additional research will be crucial in helping us identify practical solutions to break down this barrier, ensuring those who menstruate feel confident and supported to participate fully in sports," Ms Courtenay said.
Period anxiety is something Olympic and Paralympic swimmers Cate Campbell and Mon Murphy have long had to deal with.
"As a young athlete, starting to menstruate was stressful and confronting. I viewed it as something which I should keep hidden from everyone because it was gross and disgusting. I can remember having to sit out of training sessions and my friends opting to sit out of school sport and swimming due to their period. Some of my squad members gave up swimming around that age. Period anxiety shouldn't be a barrier to anyone participating in sport and this study is an important step towards creating supportive environments where all athletes have the opportunity to thrive," Ms Campbell said.
"Throughout my 22-year career there were numerous times my period caused me to withdraw from sport. Many times, the circumstances surrounding this could have been prevented through access to period products, education and de-stigmatisation. For those who menstruate, periods are a common but real barrier to sport," Ms Murphy said."
The survey is open now for anyone over the age of 15 years who have menstruated and have played or currently participate in sport and/or in active recreation.
The study findings and recommendations will be released in May.
