UEFA and Manchester Met to explore effect of menstrual cycles in women’s football

The effect of the menstrual cycle on athletes’ performance will be investigated through a new project to help football teams and clubs across Europe to improve players’ health and wellbeing. 

UEFA, which is the governing body of football in Europe, will work with Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport to address the pressing need for comprehensive research and data-driven insights on the health of female football players. 

UEFA has allocated €20,000 to the research for the current 2023/24 season, with an equivalent sum earmarked for 2024/25, underlining a commitment to driving change in the health and wellbeing of female footballers.  

Kirsty Elliott-Sale, Professor of Female Endocrinology and Exercise Physiology at Manchester Met’s Institute of Sport, is part of UEFA’s research group. The group will lead on new research with the aim of better understanding and explaining the impact of menstrual cycles on a player’s performance. 

Professor Elliott-Sale said: “It is very exciting to contribute to and lead the outcome of the UEFA consensus on menstrual cycle tracking in football.  

“A thoughtful approach to menstrual health can empower women in football. This initiative demonstrates inclusivity and is a testament to UEFA’s commitment to advancing women’s football.” 

As part of UEFA’s research panel, Professor Elliott-Sale has worked with football doctors and sports scientists to identify a glaring gap in the inconsistent tracking and utilisation of data on menstrual health – a critical aspect often overlooked in women’s football. 

Millie Bright, who plays for Chelsea F.C Women, said: “Establishing a consensus on menstrual cycle tracking is a great step towards prioritising and addressing our needs as female players.  

“By normalising conversations about this topic, it creates an environment where we feel comfortable and supported which contributes to small wins on the pitch.” 

The research will focus on six core questions: 

• What evidence exists regarding the relationship between the menstrual cycle and athlete performance and health? 

• Which menstrual cycle measures are meaningful to track in relation to athlete performance and health? 

• What valid, reliable and practical methods exist for tracking the menstrual cycle in athletes? 

• What are the best practices for disseminating and implementing useful menstrual cycle tracking in football? 

• Are research and statistical methods relevant for menstrual cycle analyses, considering the high intra- and inter-variability among players? 

• How do football players and medical staff perceive and experience menstrual cycle tracking? 

The insights and recommendations that come out of the collaborative project are expected to be published this summer.  

Based on those findings, UEFA will produce practical guidelines and toolkits for clubs and national teams across Europe to help them implement their own consistent, reliable and meaningful menstrual cycle tracking protocols. 

The project follows the launch a new Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport, led by Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport in partnership with the UK Sports Institute, which will support women’s sport and exercise by bringing leaders in sport, academia and industry together. 

The University’s partnership with UEFA builds on its existing relationships supporting women in sport with major sporting institutions including the UK Sports Institute, Arsenal Women Football Club, Manchester United, Sale Sharks and Manchester Thunder.     

It comes as Manchester Met marks 200 years of changing lives and transforming health. Discover how the University has transformed healthcare, delivering innovative research while creating the talent pipeline for our health service.