Scholarlink

Background <p>Menstruation involve intricate physiological, social, cultural, religious, and psychological factors that deeply impact women and girls globally. Disparities in access to menstrual products, facilities, information, and social support are evident between high-income countries (HICs) and low-income countries (LICs). Female athletes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) encounter distinct challenges due to limited research on the significant effects of menstruation on their daily lives as well as athletic performance. This scoping review investigates existing research on menstruation’s influence on female athletes in LMICs, proposes research gaps, and propose future study directions.</p> Method <p>We conducted a scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-Ext) guidelines. We systematically searched multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, and Google Scholar, to identify peer-reviewed publications, grey literature, and relevant sources. Our inclusion criteria required articles to contain at least one performance-related parameter related to menstruation or explore at least one menstrual phase among LMICs and LICs athletes.</p> Result <p>Our initial search yielded 1490, of which 88 potential articles were considered after title and abstract screening. After duplicate screening, 26 studies met our inclusion criteria. Eighteen studies employed a cross-sectional research design from adolescence to the 30s. Ten studies specifically focused on investigating the menstrual cycle (MC) and its impact on athletes, while five articles focused on physiology and six examined both physiology and the MC. Eight studies explored performance, while two reported on the intersection of performance.</p> Conclusion <p>The research on female athletes from LMICs requires a more consistent focus on menstruation’s impact on athletes’ well-being and performance. This scoping review underscores the urgent need for more in-depth, longitudinal, and quantifiable research that explicitly emphasizes the unique needs of athletes from LMICs. By gaining deeper insights into their experiences, barriers, and impact on performance and health, we can enhance these athletes’ overall well-being and broader social, cultural, and gender equality agendas.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

A scoping review of identifying research on menstruation and menstrual cycle among female athletes of low and low-and-middle-income countries

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月3日

查看全文
  • Mehjabin Tishan Mahfuz,
  • Faria Razzaque Shejuty,
  • Shayla Sharmin,
  • Sudipta Das Gupta,
  • Sarker Masud Parvez,
  • Nishantika Neheer,
  • Quamrun Nahar

摘要

Background

Menstruation involve intricate physiological, social, cultural, religious, and psychological factors that deeply impact women and girls globally. Disparities in access to menstrual products, facilities, information, and social support are evident between high-income countries (HICs) and low-income countries (LICs). Female athletes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) encounter distinct challenges due to limited research on the significant effects of menstruation on their daily lives as well as athletic performance. This scoping review investigates existing research on menstruation’s influence on female athletes in LMICs, proposes research gaps, and propose future study directions.

Method

We conducted a scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-Ext) guidelines. We systematically searched multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, and Google Scholar, to identify peer-reviewed publications, grey literature, and relevant sources. Our inclusion criteria required articles to contain at least one performance-related parameter related to menstruation or explore at least one menstrual phase among LMICs and LICs athletes.

Result

Our initial search yielded 1490, of which 88 potential articles were considered after title and abstract screening. After duplicate screening, 26 studies met our inclusion criteria. Eighteen studies employed a cross-sectional research design from adolescence to the 30s. Ten studies specifically focused on investigating the menstrual cycle (MC) and its impact on athletes, while five articles focused on physiology and six examined both physiology and the MC. Eight studies explored performance, while two reported on the intersection of performance.

Conclusion

The research on female athletes from LMICs requires a more consistent focus on menstruation’s impact on athletes’ well-being and performance. This scoping review underscores the urgent need for more in-depth, longitudinal, and quantifiable research that explicitly emphasizes the unique needs of athletes from LMICs. By gaining deeper insights into their experiences, barriers, and impact on performance and health, we can enhance these athletes’ overall well-being and broader social, cultural, and gender equality agendas.