The Untold Struggles of Menstruating Athletes

by: Arianna Sarmiento

I knew I was in trouble the minute I got on the field. My stomach churned, not from nervousness, but from the dull, aching cramps that had been bothering me all day long. I was playing game time, and my period had the worst timing imaginable. Again.

Playing while on your period is an unspoken challenge that too many women endure, but never discuss. From debilitating cramps and cumbersome fatigue to ever-present fear of leakage, menstruation adds a whole new level of challenge to an already demanding game. And the worst part? No one says anything.

Sports demand speed, agility, endurance, and focus. Now imagine trying to do your best when your body is waging a war inside you. Menstrual cramps can be as intense as feeble contractions, fatigue can transform a casual jog into a marathon, and hormonal fluctuations can interfere with coordination and mental clarity. But however awful it is, athletes are expected to push through. There is no pause button for periods in sports.

I remember this one soccer match that was literally more of a struggle—not against the opposing team, but with my own body. I played center midfield, meaning I ran continually. Around the middle of the first half, there came an unexpected stabbing cramp that stole my breath away. I clenched my teeth and persevered, but with every time I sprinted, the jab intensified. Fear of ruining my white shorts was distracting as the hurt itself.

At halftime, I was tired in a non-football kind of way. While my teammates remained standing in the huddle as our coach delivered a motivational speech, I hung at the edge of the group pondering whether I could possibly jog to the restroom. I could not. Therefore, I tucked my hoodie closer to my midsection, retrieved my water bottle, and pretended to be alright. That's what we do—pretend.

The second half was grueling. Every movement was twice the effort, every action difficult to accomplish. By the final whistle, I had nothing left inside of me. We had won the game, but I did not care. I remained on the bench, only thankful that it was finally over.

This is not a unique experience. It happens to countless women in every sport. And still, menstruation is a taboo topic, even among women's sports. We should have more realistic talk about how to manage menstruation while competing—about better period-friendly gear, easy-access toilets, and even game strategy that respects our bodies' natural cycles.

No player should ever have to choose between their sport and their comfort. It's time we stop suffering in silence and start demanding the support that we're owed. Because playing through the pain isn't tough—it's something that needs to be changed.