It is safe for me to say that most, if not all of the articles, I have written over the last two years have been inspired by the various athletes, coaches, and parents I meet and work with, or revolve around a topic that I am personally invested in. This week's article is certainly no different and one that I believe needs to be less taboo and more readily discussed.

As an avid exerciser, and within recent years somewhat of a competitive runner (I say competitive loosely), I spend much of my free time finding ways to improve my training plans, nutritional intake, sleep and ultimately my performance. One recurring theme for me as a female performer, however, is the effect of the menstrual cycle on my performances in training and competition.

I imagine a collective, 'this article isn't for me,' resounded from the male readers at this point…but actually you are exactly who I hope to capture…and the female readers of course.

Here in Trinidad and Tobago, the number of women and girls participating in sports and exercise is growing exponentially, a trend that is also being seen globally. An eager rush for carnival bodies, a more conscious decision to live healthier lives post-pandemic, or perhaps just a greater appreciation for the outdoors now that we are no longer confined to our homes…Whatever the rationale, women and girls are becoming more active. Specifically for sports, the continued progress of increased media exposure and the professionalizing of the women's game has inspired more young women and girls to participate at the grassroots level in the hopes of pursuing a career in elite sport. At the Tokyo Olympics alone 45 per cent of the athlete population were women and according to NCAA statistics as of 2020, 44 per cent of collegiate athletes are female. These numbers are certainly encouraging and motivating for the young ones looking on. Another obvious fact is that the number of coaches, trainers, instructors, and technical support staff, largely remains male-dominated.

So how many of us as female athletes and our coaches/trainers/support staff/parents actually talk about menstrual cycles and periods (no they are not the same)? It's not about pads and tampons or the 4-10 days that a female athlete may, 'bleed.' It's about the 21-35 days on average that a menstrual cycle occurs…when one ends another begins. Is consideration given when setting training plans to what stage of the menstrual cycle a female athlete might be in? Knowledge of the training benefits for muscular gain during the follicular phase versus the training benefits for weight loss during the luteal phase. How hormonal changes can affect physical fatigue, mood, sleep and ultimately the training response?

Did you know that there are certain types of injuries female athletes are more prone to including ACL tears, kneecap pain, stress fractures, tendinitis, shin splints, ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, and joint pain due to joint hypermobility (TRIA, 2022)? Did you know that such injuries may be linked to hormones? Understanding