Menstrual Cycle Syndrome in the Athletic Performance of Selected Female Athletes in Ghana

Oral Presentation

Abstract

ABSTRACT^: Despite the increase in the engagement of female athletes in sports over the years, not much has been done about the effects of menstrual cycle (MC) on the performance of female athletes especially in Ghana. To develop interventions tailored towards female athletes, the study determined the menstrual cycle syndrome in the athletic performance of selected Ghanaian female athletes. Two hundred and sixty-nine (269) (mean_Age=21.28±3.6 years, menarche age =14) selected elite female athletes participated in the study. The adapted Menstrual Distress Questionnaire and Kishali et al (2006) instrument were used for data collection. 77.7% had regular menstruation in normal times, 17.5% had regular menstruation during high intensity training with significant rise in menstrual problem during high-intensity training. Based on the feeling of performance before, during and after the MC, 20.1% right before, 77.7% and 2.2% just after felt good. Based on the evaluation of performance in competition during menstruation, 4.5% claimed their performance remains unchanged during the first day of onset of menstruation, 13.4% during the second day in respect to the first day, 35.3%during the third day and 53.5% occurred 13 days onset of menstruation. 61.3% performed worse in competition during the first day onset of menstruation, this ratio decreased to 27.5% on the second day in respect to the first day, 7.8% on the third day and 3.7% on the thirteenth day. Pain levels decreased during training and competition. The severity of most of the symptoms recorded were mild and moderate. High intensity training affects the regularity of menstrual flow negatively. Most female athletes in this study would perform to their full potential despite MC given other psychosocial considerations.