Menstruation Challenges for Female Para-Athletes

In the world of sports for, athletes exceed physical obstacles every day, but a significant challenge remains largely hidden: manage menstruation with a disability. For female para-matletas, periods are not just a natural cycle; They represent a complex intersection of physiological changes, physical limitations and performance -related obstacles. Our discussions of recent focal groups and a work workshop with female para-matletas in Karnataka, on February 17 and February 23 or February, respectively, have discovered powerful real-life experiences that highlight these categories of differential disabilities between differentials.

When a spinal cord lesion occurs (SCI), the body enters a phase called Spinal shock—A period characterized by the sudden loss of reflexes, sensation and motor function below the level of injury. Duration This phase, the hormonal balance that regulates the menstrual cycle can be severely interrupted or resulting amenorrhea (The absence of menstruation). Althehemy women resume their cycles in one to six months as the spinal shock is resolved, the experience is far from being typical.

For athletes with injuries above level T10, the physiological process of menstrual continues, but the sensory experience can be altered or simply absent. A Paralympic medista with Sci explained: “I don’t feel menstrual cramps as I did before my injury, which sounds like a benefit, but believes that they will not realize that I have started is visible.” This altered sensory feedback makes it difficult to monitor menstrual health and adapt the training routines.

For athletes with injuries in or above level T6, menstruation brings additional and serious medical consideration: Autonomous dysreflexia. This condition implies sudden and dangerous peaks in blood pressure triggered by stimuli such as menstrual cramps or the insertion of internal menstrual products. Autonomous dysrefleflexia poses significant risks for health and demands immediate care, which further complicates menstrual management for thesis athletes.

Moreoover, SCI athletes have a high -risk substantial risk of Urinary tract infections (UTES). Frequent catheterization, essential to handle the function of the bladder, can weaken the natural defenders of the urinary tract. The anatomical proximity of urinary and reproductive tracts in women facilitates bacterial transfer, especially duration menstruation. In India, where accessible hygiene facilities are often limited, and the prolonged wheelchair session can an excellent bladder emptying, these risks are equally more pronounced. The Australian Sports Institute (AIS) and the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) individualized bladder and regular monitoring management plans to help mitigate thesis challenges.

Female athletes with cerebral palsy face a different set of challenges rooted in the control and coordination of the engine. Hormonal fluctuations duration and the menstrual cycle can worsen spasticity, a condition in which the muscles remain continuously contracted. Many CP athletes report that spending the initial days of their period, their spasticity increases the notification. A national swimmer shared: “Duration the first days of my period, my spasticity sometimes increases. The movements I perfected in training become much more difficult.” This increase in muscle tone not only affects physical performance, but also complicates the management of menstrual products.

The management of medications in CP athletes is another layer of complexity. Spasticity medications, such as baclophene, are commonly used to reduce muscle tone. However, its effectiveness can vary with hormonal changes through the menstrual cycle. Althegh’s investigation into this specific interaction is limited, many athletes have observed that their medication needs fluctuate duration menstruation. In addition, the application for fine motor skills to insert tampons or handle menstrual cups is often compromised by the loss of selective motor control in CP, which makes menstrual hygiene a significant challenge.

For par -atlets with limited hand function, either due to quadregia, the differences in the limbs or severe menstrual attention administered by the CP has practical challenges. Many conventional menstrual products require fine motor skills for application and elimination. As a result, these athletes of restricted product options and must trust adaptive solutions such as period panties or only adult diapers. This dependence on caregiver’s assistance can compromise privacy and reduce the sense of independence of the athlete. A wheelchair basketball player with Quetptegia commented: “The logistics of menstrual care means that I need to program the duration of the assistance. Add another coordination layer that my teammates do not have to consider.”

Female athletes for wheelchairs also find unique positioning challenges:

• Extended sitting pressure: The prolonged session in a wheelchair creates a pressure dynamic that affects the positioning of the menstrual product, increasing the risks of leaks.

• Transfer complexities: Multiple transfers are often required to administer menstruation, however, many training places lack facilities designed for easy transfers.

• Temperature regulation: Many wheelchair athletes already fight with a deteriorated temperature regulation below their level of injury, and the duration of hormonal fluctuations can exacerbate discomfort.

The physical environment further aggravates the challenges of the thesis. In many parts of India, facilities and public bathrooms are designed for healthy individuals. Conventional Indian -style bathrooms, insufficient space for transfers and the absence of adequate elimination facilities annoying to effective menstrual management. These infrastructure deficiencies not only compromise hygiene, but also create constant stress and distraction for athletes.

The psychological impact is equally significant. Para-Attached women face a double stigma that stigma talas both the challenges related to disability and the social taboos that surround menstruation. This double load can lead to:

• Performance anxiety: The fear of leaks or accessibility to training bathrooms of duration/competition sessions can distract athlete duration competitions.

• Social isolation: In training environments dominated by men, lack of peer support can leave athletes feeling isolated.

• Reduced trust: The need for assistance and difficulties for the caretaker in menstrual hygiene management can undermine the sense of independence and the highway of an athlete. As a sports psychologist pointed out, “the cognitive burden on menstruation management throughout the specific disability conerns of disability creates an additional mental charge that can affect the performance and general enjoyment of sport.”

The ideas of our focal group discussions underline an urgent need for specific interventions:

• Specific Disability Research: We must conduct studies focused on menstrual health needs of Indian parasores in different categories of disability.

• Accessible infrastructure: Immediate improvements are needed in the design of the facilities to provide clean, private and accessible baths and changing areas.

• Specialized Education: Integral training for athletes, coaches and support personnel in adaptive menstrual management strategies are essential.

• Product innovation: The development of adaptive menstrual products adapted to the needs of paracuslets must be prioritized.

• Medical protocols: Establish standardized guidelines for the prevention of UTI and menstrual management to safeguard the health of athletes.

When addressing the critical thesis problems, the Simply periods initiative aims to ensure that menstruation management does not remain an unsurpassed barrier for athletic excellence. Our vision is to create a support environment where all Para-Attile women can focus on achieving their maximum potential.

1. Charls, AC, Rawwat, N. and Zachariah, K. (2022). Menstrual changes after spinal cord injury. Spinal cord, 60(8), 712–715. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-022-00765-2

2. Sipski, ML (1991). The impact of spinal cord injury on female sexuality, menstruation and pregnancy: a literature review. The Journal of the American Paraplegia Society, 14(3), 122-126. https://doi.org/10.1080/01952307.1991.11735841

3. Allen, JB, Stover, SL, Jackson, AB and Richards, JS (1991). Autonomous dysreflexia and the menstrual cycle in a woman with spinal cord injury. Neurorehabilitation, 1(4), 58-62.

4. Gray, SH, Wylie, M., Christensen, S., Khan, A., Williams, D. and Glader, L. (2021). Pubiousness and menarche in young women with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability: a qualitative study of caregivers. Child Development and Neurology Medicine, 63(2), 190-195. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.14698

5. Ertzgaard, P., Campo, C. and Calabrense, A. (2017). Effectiveness and safety of oral baclofen in the management of spasticity: a logic of intrathecal baclofen. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 49(3), 193-203.

   About the author:

   Manasi Satalkar, an enthusiast of movement and physiology, is a dancer, broker and blog writer with a Master in Manipal Sports Rehabilitation. He has worked with swimmers, athletics athletes and women’s elite soccer players in Odisha. With experience in individual and team sports, he advocates an individual specific approach to advance the sports performance of Indian women.