‘Unacceptable’ to Not Talk About Periods in Sport, Says Netball Star Liana Panagarry

For decades, the conversation around women’s sport has focused on equal pay, media coverage, and facilities. But there’s a fundamental, biological factor affecting half the world’s population that remains shrouded in silence: menstruation. England Netball star and former Roses captain Liana Panagarry is breaking that taboo, declaring it “unacceptable” to not talk about periods in sport. Her powerful stance comes as stark data reveals that periods remain the biggest barrier for secondary school-age girls in accessing physical activity while at school. This isn’t just about elite performance; it’s about a systemic failure that begins on the school playground and echoes all the way to the podium.

The Stark Data: How Menstruation Becomes a Barrier to Participation

The evidence is clear and damning. According to a national report by the Youth Sport Trust, menstruation is the primary obstacle preventing teenage girls from engaging in school sports. This isn’t a minor issue—it’s the leading cause of disengagement. The reasons are a complex web of practical, psychological, and societal pressures that are rarely addressed in school corridors or coaching manuals.

• Fear of Leakage and Embarrassment: The overwhelming anxiety about staining uniforms or being exposed in front of peers.
• Lack of Adequate Facilities: Insufficient access to clean, private toilets, bins, and changing areas to manage menstruation with dignity.
• Pain and Symptom Management: Cramps, bloating, fatigue, and headaches that are often dismissed or met with a simple instruction to “get on with it.”
• Cultural and Social Stigma: A pervasive silence that frames periods as shameful, dirty, or a legitimate excuse to opt-out, rather than a normal biological process.

When these factors converge, the result is a generation of girls learning to step back from physical activity, internalizing the idea that sport is not for them during their menstrual cycle. This dropout has lifelong implications for health, confidence, and relationship with their own bodies.

Panagarry’s Call to Arms: Normalizing the Conversation at All Levels

Liana Panagarry’s intervention is significant because it bridges the gap between the elite and the everyday. As an international athlete, she speaks from an environment where the conversation is slowly evolving, driven by performance science. “We talk about nutrition, sleep, muscle soreness, and mental health,” Panagarry implies, “so why is this different?” Her point is that silence is a choice, and it’s one that disproportionately harms young girls.

At the professional level, pioneering teams and sports scientists are now tailoring training loads, nutrition, and recovery around the menstrual cycle to optimize performance and reduce injury risk. However, this progressive approach highlights the glaring disparity: if elite athletes are supported in managing their cycles for peak performance, why are schoolgirls left to fend for themselves, often with catastrophic results for their participation? Panagarry’s stance demands this knowledge and culture trickle down, insisting that open dialogue is the first and most critical step.

Expert analysis from sports psychologists and physiologists supports this. Dr. Emma Ross, a leading voice in female athlete health, often states, “You can’t manage what you don’t measure, and you can’t talk about what is taboo.” By not educating coaches, teachers, and the girls themselves, we are actively disabling a huge portion of potential talent and, more importantly, denying them the joy and benefits of sport.

The Ripple Effect: Predictions for a More Inclusive Sporting Future

The movement to normalize periods in sport, galvanized by voices like Panagarry’s, is gaining irreversible momentum. We can predict several key shifts in the coming years as this conversation moves from the margins to the mainstream.

First, we will see a revolution in sports kit and design. Expect more brands to develop period-friendly athletic wear—leak-resistant fabrics, integrated shorts, and designs that alleviate bloating-related discomfort. This practical innovation can directly combat the fear of leakage that the Youth Sport Trust data identifies as a major barrier.

Second, mandatory education for coaches and teachers will become standard. Coaching qualifications will include modules on female physiology, teaching professionals how to have supportive conversations and adapt activities. The “just run through it” mentality will be replaced with individualized support.

Finally, we will witness the rise of the athlete as advocate. Stars like Panagarry, Dina Asher-Smith, and others who speak openly about their cycles will reshape public perception. Their honesty provides permission for young girls to do the same, transforming a private struggle into a shared, manageable part of athletic life.

Breaking the Cycle: A Blueprint for Change

Addressing this issue requires a systemic, multi-pronged approach. Silence is the enemy, and action is the only remedy. Here is a blueprint for change that schools, clubs, and governing bodies must adopt:

• Implement Open Education Programs: Age-appropriate, fact-based education for all students (boys included) to dismantle stigma and foster empathy.
• Audit and Upgrade Facilities: Ensure every sports hall and field has accessible, stocked, and private sanitation facilities.
• Develop Flexible Participation Policies: Move away from rigid attendance mandates. Empower girls to manage their involvement—be it through alternative roles, lower-impact activities, or rest—without penalty or shame.
• Invest in Research and Resources: Direct funding into understanding the specific impacts of menstruation on adolescent participation and develop toolkits for educators.

The goal is not to lower standards, but to create an environment where every girl can participate consistently and confidently, understanding her body rather than fighting it.

Conclusion: From Unacceptable to Unremarkable

Liana Panagarry’s label of “unacceptable” is precisely the right term. It is unacceptable that a natural biological function continues to be the greatest barrier to sports participation for millions of girls. It is unacceptable that fear and shame are allowed to override the profound physical, mental, and social benefits of an active life. The data from the Youth Sport Trust is not just a statistic; it is a call for a cultural overhaul in sport and education.

The path forward is clear: we must normalize, educate, and accommodate. By shattering the taboo, we do more than just keep girls in sport; we teach them to listen to and respect their bodies, we build resilience, and we foster a generation of athletes and advocates who see no contradiction between being a woman and being a competitor. The conversation started by athletes like Panagarry aims for a simple yet revolutionary future: a day where talking about periods in sport is not just acceptable, but unremarkable. That is the inclusive sporting world we must all demand.

Source: Based on news from Sky Sports.