Wales women tap into powers of menstruation
Natalia John, the Wales and Brython Thunder lock, has been playing rugby for over a decade. For most of that time she couldn’t explain why her performance levels would fluctuate so dramatically over the course of a month.
One week she was hammering out personal bests in the gym and backing that up with energetic displays on the pitch. A week or two later, she was nowhere near her best.
“I’d feel lethargic for no apparent reason,” she says.
“I’d get in my head and tell myself that I was weak and criticise myself. It wasn’t until our [Wales] physio, Jo Perkins, gave us a briefing on our menstrual cycles that I began to realise that these changes were totally normal.”
Now, in collaboration with the founding principal partner of Wales Women’s and Girl’s Rugby, Vodafone, Wales’ women are trialling a new concussion tracking technology to help female athletes better understand how the different phases of their menstrual cycle impact their performance, wellbeing and recovery.
Collecting data through an app on their phones, players are also able to monitor their symptoms of concussion from day to day.
Research from the University of Birmingham suggests that female athletes may suffer from both higher rates of concussion, as well as more severe and prolonged symptoms, compared to their male counterparts. Though the research is still being developed, there are suggestions that hormone variations could be a key factor.
“We’ve been able to see differences across the different phases of their menstrual cycle and the symptoms that they might be having,” Perkins explains.
“It’s a massive step in our research. We can see that in certain phases certain women may have either prolonged or heightened symptoms. Tracking concussions is something we’ve done for a while, but this helps us do so on an app in a user friendly way.
“There is some evidence to suggest that when players are in the luteal phase – right after ovulation – when progesterone [which prepares the lining in the uterus which helps a fertilised egg impact and grow] is higher, there is some evidence to suggest that women have more severe symptoms if they sustain a concussion.
“They think that’s because when suddenly the progesterone drops. That can have a potentially inflammatory effect which could result in longer symptoms.”
This information is a potential game changer for female players who, until recently, have been largely left in the dark regarding changes in their energy levels.
“It’s really empowering,” says John. “Before I’d attribute it to me feeling crap for no reason and then I’d in my head because I didn’t know what was going on. Now I accept that sometimes I won’t feel at my best and that allows me to give myself a break. Which then allows me to make more gains when I’m feeling on it.
“I’m now judging my on-field performances a little differently. Obviously I want to perform at my best every time, but there will be weeks where my body won’t be as strong or as on it.”
Both John and Perkins are optimistic that this new technology, along with more open conversations around female health, will advance the women’s game. There are numerous examples of sport leading the rest of society when it comes to social and cultural change and tethering high performance to something unique to women could break down existing stigmas.
“Historically various aspects of female health haven’t been discussed for reasons such as embarrassment, or it’s something that hasn’t been associated with performance,” Perkins adds.
“But now it’s clear that pelvic health, breast health, incontinence and severe menstrual cycle symptoms are all directly linked with high performance.
“The culture should be one where it is open and we talk about this. Not that we consider them normal, because we hopefully don’t have any women with severe symptoms of any sort. But if they do occur, we treat them appropriately without any shame or embarrassment.
“It’s a dream,” Perkins continues. “The evidence is showing us that we can actually add to the players’ loads in the luteal phase is very interesting. We can use our cycles to our advantage and that is very exciting for female sport. That is the same for the rest of the science where we individualise the programmes to suit the athlete and get the most out of their unique cycle. ”
The gap between the men’s and women’s game is closing every season in terms of support and the on-field product on show. But this is one variable that the likes of Antoine Dupont, Siya Kolisi and every other leading man will never have to contend with.
Soon enough, menstrual cycles will be regarded as advantages, rather than hindrances, for women at the elite level.
“Who knows where I’d be in my career if I had this technology when I started and I never gave myself such a hard time?” John wonders. “But I’m all about moving forward and I see it as a great opportunity that we have now to create something special for players down the road.
“In 10 years’ time we’ll have better concussion protocols, the players will be better protected and they’ll have more information about the relationship between the periods and their performance. I know some people might be apprehensive because it’s all so new, but we see it as a great responsibility to be taking this on.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Most underrated player in world rugby.
1 Go to commentsHow many fans will travel to Qatar to watch these games ? because if they dont, it will be played in front of a few disinterested unknowledgeable Qataris and then just becomes media ‘content’. Thats what Test rugby will be reduced to.
1 Go to commentsSo as long as the playmaker still has the ball IN his hands, its OK. Otherwise the timing is wrong and he’s a liability. No grey line there. Thats the rule he is advocating ? Got it.
3 Go to commentsWrite them off at your peril
8 Go to commentsJust fantastic that the professional game is finally being taken to the Pacific islands. Not before time. It justifies the mere existence of Moana as a club, hopefully they can start to get some positive results too. Check out the sheer joy of the crowds in Fiji and the buzz that having a home team creates. Tonga always had (has ?) issues with their ground not complying with International rugby standards, which NZ always used as an excuse for many years not bringing the All Blacks over. Hopefully this match is the first of many. Would be great to see some tourism grow on the back of it. I once went to the Cook Islands Sevens in Rarotonga - tiny island nation but man did they turn it on. Tonga and Samoa will too given half a chance.
1 Go to commentsQuite right. Punish the time wasters. Its BS these time delays for non-injuries. The Boks have been using it for years now to slow down opposition and now its a scourge on the game. Put players like DeGroot on the sideline and restart play immediately. Watch how 5-6 min to fix your boots quickly becomes 1-2 minutes. Better still how about some personal professional management and you check the conditions/turf beforehand and get yourself better prepared. It might even help your team.
1 Go to commentsWhat drivel. Rugby as a contact sport should not be further diminished by crying over legal hard tackles. Take on the line? Be ready to take the hit. This is PC nonsense.
3 Go to commentsGregor Paul is going to be proved totally wrong. The Crusaders will get in the top 8 and are capable of winning this comp. The return of magnificent captain and player Scott Barrett on Friday was huge. There are a number of players returning and Ethan Blackadder showed huge progression in only his third game back. Christian Lio-Willie has added a new dimension , these two’s combination with Cullen Grace was fantastic. This builds depth when you have outstanding players like Tom Christie and Dom Gardiner also available. The tight five improved ten fold and this is with Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor being back.Others are set to return. Johnny McNicoll on his return home has been a revelation. Paul can dismiss Fridays win by the Crusaders as much as he likes and he will prove very popular in this country in doing so. But he will be proved wrong , Rob Penney and his coaching team will have the last laugh.
8 Go to commentsI haven’t seen or heard to many whinging about Finau quite the opposite. The TMO’s have reviewed each time and taken no action, so if they have now been alerted it’s not from people whinging The player comes flying out of the line and launches himself at the attacker so it is probably ruled as a committed tackle, but at what point does it move to tackling a player without the ball Time will tell
3 Go to commentsThis cracked media record of aligning success or failure on head coaches is remarkable. Using the crusaders past history as an example, a more sensible observation and analysis could be that the recent head coaches had inherited a extremely successful combination of players linked to their traditional historical support of the Canterbury people. That period ended this year when the new coach was introduced to virtually a new team. And in a year where other franchises have grown much stronger than their respective past, it was always an anticipated reality that the coach and his new crusader team were up against it. Therefore, I humbly believe that unlike some commentators present, I laud coach Penny and the team for their efforts to date and I am sure given another term and with Canterbury behind them they will be riding high once more. Strange all this coming from me who lives in Taupo and a one eyed chiefs supporter. Can't wait for all future chiefs and crusader games!
8 Go to commentsGrt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to commentsA Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
112 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
8 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
8 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
8 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
112 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to comments