“Breaking the Silence and Barriers” on Culture and Menstruation in Sport: A Cross-Sectional Survey of 205 Elite Sportswomen Across the Pacific

The intersection of cultural and ethnic identities with menstrual experiences in sports remains an under-researched topic. This study used an online survey with 205 Pacific sportswomen to investigate the experiences and understanding of menstruation within the different Pacific islands. The survey examines the different cultural stigmas, beliefs, taboos, traditions, menstrual health, and sports performance of elite Pacific sportswomen. The primary purpose of this research was to understand how Pacific sportswomen’s experiences and understandings of menstruation are shaped by their cultures, and whether this impacts their experiences of and needs for menstrual health in sport. This survey identifies broad trends and captures the diversity of perspectives of sportswomen across different Pacific cultures, while also highlighting shared experiences of ongoing cultural stigma and taboo and lack of culturally responsive menstrual health care in sporting contexts.