Coming of Age in Sport: Exploring Women Athletes’ Early Menstrual Experiences

Although research has begun to explore menstruation in sport, little is known about how athletesexperience their first periods and how these events influence their sport participation.Understanding these early experiences is critical for informing more supportive and inclusivesport environments during a formative time in athletes’ lives. The purpose of this interpretivedescriptive study was to explore and describe women athletes’ early menstrual experiences. Twosemi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 athletes aged 16-24 who were active incompetitive sport at the time of their first menstrual period. Each participant completed twointerviews exploring their early menstrual experiences and how they navigated these moments insport and life. Member reflections followed to facilitate co-interpretation of their stories andsupport co-production of the story narratives. Data was analyzed using reflective thematic andfunctional analysis to explore shared meanings and narrative expression. Three short stories weregenerated to reflect the data (1) The Fear and Relief of Being Seen, capturing tensions betweenvulnerability and connection; (2) A Natural Nuisance in Sport, reflecting how menstruation istreated as both ordinary and disruptive; and (3) Care Isn’t Guaranteed, pointing to inconsistentsupport from coaches, peers, and systems. These stories offer emotionally resonant reflectionsthat may be used by sport stakeholders seeking to foster more inclusive environments. Bymaking visible what is often hidden, these stories open conversations that acknowledge—ratherthan ignore—women’s realities, contributing to a shift toward sport spaces that reflect theirexperiences and genuinely support their development.