Edited by Carolyn Kent Women’s Football Hub
“Menstrual health shouldn’t be an afterthought in football – it needs to be part of the conversation.”
That’s the message from Julia Donnelly, sports scientist, head of performance at Athlete Focused, and soon-to-be Dr Donnelly. In our latest Women’s Football Hub podcast, we sat down with Julia to unpack her groundbreaking PhD research into the menstrual cycle in football – and why understanding it is critical for supporting female players at every level.
Why study menstrual cycles in football?
Julia’s journey into this research began when she realised even she, as a female sports scientist, lacked the knowledge to answer her players’ questions.
“When I first started working in women’s football, there was an assumption that because I was female, I must know all about it,” Julia explains. “But I didn’t. I had to go away and teach myself.”
When Glasgow City Football Club offered her a PhD investigating menstrual health in football, it felt like the perfect fit. Glasgow City is a club known for championing women and girls’ health – the ideal environment to tackle a neglected topic head-on.
Julia didn’t hesitate. Over the next four years, she immersed herself in research that would help players, coaches, and support staff better understand and manage menstrual health in the game.
A taboo topic – even today
One of the striking things Julia discusses is how menstrual health is still shrouded in secrecy and shame – even in 2025.
“Language and advertising have barely moved on. Only recently have we seen ads stop using blue liquid to represent blood. Even then, the way periods are discussed promotes embarrassment and silence.”
That culture of secrecy doesn’t disappear on the football pitch. In fact, it often gets worse.
At the elite level, some progress has been made. Clubs with resources are investing in research, education, and athlete monitoring. But in grassroots and academy football – where so many girls play – coaches are often volunteers or parents with little time, training or support to learn about menstrual health.
What coaches actually know – and want to know
Julia’s first PhD study focused on coaches working in women’s and girls’ football. She wanted to understand their awareness, experience, and perceptions of the menstrual cycle, and how it impacted their work.
She discovered:
✅ A widespread knowledge gap. Coaches knew they didn’t know enough.
✅ A communication barrier. Many coaches felt awkward discussing periods with players, fearing embarrassment on both sides.
✅ Trust and relationships matter. Communication was easier when strong player-coach trust existed.
Crucially, Julia found coaches weren’t necessarily clamouring for deep biological detail.
“They wanted practical solutions,” she says. “They recognised their knowledge was limited, but what they really needed was help supporting players on the pitch.”
But Julia argues you can’t skip the basics. Without understanding the foundations – like how the cycle works and why symptoms vary – coaches can’t have informed, supportive conversations.
Players feel the impact – but rarely talk about it
Julia’s second study explored players’ experiences – from age 13 in academies to senior first-team football.
The results were stark:
✨ 78% of adolescent players felt their cycle impacted performance.
✨ 96% of adult players said the same.
Players reported symptoms like pain, low energy, mood changes and concentration difficulties that directly affected their football.
But despite those high numbers, communication remained shockingly low.
✅ Only 13% of adolescents said they’d speak to their coach about menstrual health.
✅ Even among adults, only 23% would.
Julia found adolescents especially relied on friends and family rather than staff. Even in senior environments, many players weren’t comfortable talking to coaches or practitioners.
“It shows the real state of play,” Julia reflects. “Even in clubs with better resources and culture, the communication barrier is still there.”
Addressing myths and misconceptions
Julia also uncovered persistent misconceptions among coaches – such as assuming players are “managing” their cycle just because they don’t talk about it.
“There was this idea that no complaints meant no problems. But really, players might not feel safe or comfortable bringing it up.”
She also challenges the belief that female coaches always have an advantage.
“One of the female coaches I interviewed admitted she’d never experienced menstrual issues herself – so she’d never learned about it. Meanwhile, some male coaches who had daughters were more knowledgeable. It’s less about gender and more about willingness to learn and build trust.”
What does good support look like?
Julia is clear: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But there are principles clubs can adopt.
✅ Visibility: Small changes can signal big cultural shifts. Have period products on display, in physio bags, or readily accessible in changing rooms. Make it normal.
✅ Communication: Coaches need to open the door. At Glasgow City, they use a “player bag” with period products given to the captain before games. That small act normalises conversation without making anyone uncomfortable.
✅ Collaboration: Include players in designing support. Don’t assume you know what they want – ask them.
✅ Education: Coaches don’t need to be medics, but they need enough knowledge to spot issues and respond appropriately.
✅ Referral pathways: Coaches should know when and how to escalate concerns, whether to medical staff, physios, or parents.
✅ Avoid tick-box tracking: Julia warns against clubs that collect cycle data but don’t use it meaningfully. “If you can’t act on it, don’t do it. It risks harming trust.”
Real change needs real commitment
For Julia, best practice isn’t just about buying period products or holding one-off workshops. It’s about embedding menstrual health in club culture.
✅ Make it a standard part of athlete monitoring (when you have the capacity to support it properly).
✅ Normalise conversations.
✅ Train staff at all levels.
✅ Prioritise safeguarding and clear protocols.
And importantly – listen to the players.
She highlights that after education and honest conversation, some players actually find exercise helps their symptoms. Others will need flexibility to adapt sessions. Recognising individual differences is key.
From research to practice
Now head of performance at Athlete Focused, Julia is determined to put her research into action.
She’s working on developing education protocols, supporting clubs and governing bodies, and designing sustainable, collaborative strategies – not just “drop-in” sessions.
She’s also expanding Athlete Focused’s support for female athletes in Scotland, offering S&C programmes, injury rehab, and practical guidance tailored to women’s sport.
“It’s time for other clubs and organisations to catch up,” she says. “We need to make this normal everywhere – not just in one or two elite teams.”
A final word for coaches and clubs
Julia’s message to coaches who feel unsure or overwhelmed?
👉 “You don’t have to be an expert. But you do need to be open.”
👉 “Know enough to spot when something isn’t right.”
👉 “Have clear pathways to get players the help they need.”
👉 “Most importantly – make it okay to talk about it.”
As she says:
“Menstrual health shouldn’t be seen as an optional extra. It’s central to keeping girls and women healthy, happy and playing the game they love.”
If you’re a coach, practitioner or anyone working with female players – this is essential listening.
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