Van taboe naar troef: de menstruatiecyclus als vergeten hoofdstuk van de topsport
Belgische topsporters ervaren vaak menstruatieklachten die hun prestaties beïnvloeden, maar er wordt zelden over gesproken met coaches of begeleiders. Nieuw onderzoek toont hoe groot de impact is, én hoe dringend het tijd is om dit taboe te doorbreken.
Een blinde vlek in de sport
We hebben het vaak over trainingsschema’s, voeding of mentale weerbaarheid in de topsport, maar amper over de menstruatiecyclus. Nochtans is die voor de helft van de atleten een factor die dagelijks meespeelt. Vermoeidheid, buikpijn of concentratieproblemen kunnen sportprestaties beïnvloeden, zeker in periodes van belangrijke wedstrijden. Toch blijft het onderwerp grotendeels onbesproken.
Voor het eerst werd er in België grootschalig onderzoek gedaan naar dit thema. De ervaringen, klachten en communicatie rond de menstruatiecyclus van 81 eliteatleten uit verschillende disciplines – van atletiek en wielrennen tot volleybal en triatlon – werden in kaart gebracht.
Klachten die prestaties beïnvloeden
De resultaten zijn opvallend duidelijk: bijna 9 op de 10 atletes ervaart klachten in de dagen voor hun menstruatie. Tijdens de menstruatie zelf stijgt dat cijfer zelfs tot meer dan 90 procent. De meest genoemde symptomen zijn buikpijn, vermoeidheid, prikkelbaarheid en stemmingswisselingen.
Voor veel sportsters zijn die klachten meer dan een ongemak. De helft grijpt in competitieperiodes zelfs preventief naar pijnstillers, gewoon om te kunnen presteren. Bovendien komen menstruatiestoornissen – zoals het uitblijven van de menstruatie of onregelmatige cycli – opvallend vaak voor in de Belgische topsport.
Het stilzwijgen doorbreken
Misschien nog zorgwekkender is de stilte rond dit onderwerp. Slechts één op drie atletes praat met haar coach over de invloed van de cyclus op prestaties. De redenen? Het wordt te persoonlijk gevonden, of men vreest dat coaches er weinig van afweten.
Een interessant verschil kwam naar boven: individuele sporters (zoals wielrenners en triatleten) praten er vaker over dan atleten in teamsporten. In een teamomgeving is de drempel blijkbaar nog groter.
Anticonceptie als hulpmiddel
Veel topsporters zetten ook hormonale anticonceptie in, niet enkel als voorbehoedsmiddel maar ook strategisch om hun cyclus te beïnvloeden. Daarmee proberen ze bloedingen uit te stellen of klachten te verminderen tijdens belangrijke wedstrijden. Toch rapporteerden sommige sportsters ook nadelige effecten, zoals vermoeidheid tijdens hun menstruatie ondanks het gebruik van anticonceptie.
Van taboe naar troef
Wat atletes zelf aangeven, biedt kansen: velen voelen zich net na hun menstruatie fysiek en mentaal het sterkst. Als coaches en medische teams meer aandacht zouden besteden aan de cyclus, kan dat leiden tot een slimmere afstemming van trainingen en wedstrijden. In plaats van de cyclus te zien als een hinderpaal, kan ze net een hulpmiddel worden.
Waarom dit onderzoek belangrijk is
Tot nu toe was er in België nauwelijks aandacht voor dit thema. Dit onderzoek geeft voor het eerst een duidelijk beeld van hoe Belgische eliteatletes hun menstruatiecyclus ervaren en welke invloed die heeft op hun sportprestaties. Uit de bevindingen blijkt dat er nood is aan meer open communicatie tussen atleten en hun omkadering, aan educatie voor coaches en medische staf zodat zij beter begrijpen wat er speelt, én aan begeleiding op maat waarbij de menstruatiecyclus een volwaardige plaats krijgt in de planning van trainingen en wedstrijden.
Een oproep tot verandering
De Olympische Spelen in Parijs markeerden een historische primeur: er namen voor het eerst evenveel vrouwen als mannen deel. Toch is de sportwereld nog niet klaar met de gelijkheidsstrijd. Zolang de menstruatiecyclus een taboe blijft, blijft er een belangrijke factor onderbelicht die de prestaties van vrouwelijke atleten beïnvloedt.
Dit onderzoek toont dat het anders kan: door te luisteren naar atletes, door kennis te delen en door de cyclus niet langer weg te stoppen, maar te erkennen als een realiteit die aandacht verdient. Alleen zo kunnen we de prestaties én het welzijn van vrouwelijke topsporters echt optimaliseren.
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