{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T06:21:47Z","timestamp":1790403707903,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,20]],"date-time":"2025-03-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1742428800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>The objective of this study was to investigate the perceived impact of the different phases of the menstrual cycle on football and futsal participation and identify barriers that may limit the performance and participation of Portuguese female players across competition levels.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>An online survey was conducted with the following inclusion criteria: registered participation in official football or futsal Portuguese leagues, an age of 18 years or older, and perceived regular menstrual cycles. A total of 197 answers were obtained and analyzed.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The majority of participants were 18-25 years old (61%), and 59% played futsal. Top-tier league players represented 15% of respondents, mid-tier 26%, and low-tier 59%. For the majority of respondents, the first 3 days of menstruation were perceived as having the most negative impact (66%), with abdominal pain, bloating, and breast tenderness being the most common symptoms. Players also associated the menstrual phase with decreased performance (endurance and power) and self-confidence, whereas they generally felt more confident and motivated during ovulation. No significant differences were found between sports (football and futsal) or competition levels in the perceived impact on performance and participation (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &amp;gt; 0.05). Overall, 53% of the players reported a perceived lack of knowledge and trust in their coach and other staff members to talk openly about menstrual health. The most cited external barrier to sports participation was the fear of leaking. To address the identified challenges, five intervention levels were proposed: communication, comprehension, education, equipment, and facilities.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title><jats:p>These findings emphasize the need for better communication, education, and structural support to reduce menstruation-related barriers.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1576752","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,20]],"date-time":"2025-03-20T08:19:22Z","timestamp":1742458762000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Impact of the menstrual cycle and barriers to football and futsal performance in Portuguese players: a survey-based cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Cristiana","family":"Santos","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M\u00e1rio","family":"Lopes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jo\u00e3o","family":"Brito","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Katrine Okholm","family":"Kryger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carolina","family":"Wilke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bruno","family":"Travassos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"316","DOI":"10.1177\/1747954120916073","article-title":"Australian female athlete perceptions of the challenges associated with training and competing when menstrual symptoms are present","volume":"15","author":"Armour","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Sci. Coach."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology","volume":"3","author":"Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qual. Res. Psychol"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1111\/sms.13818","article-title":"Elite female athletes' experiences and perceptions of the menstrual cycle on training and sport performance","volume":"31","author":"Brown","year":"2021","journal-title":"Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"438","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2020-102792","article-title":"Prevalence and frequency of menstrual cycle symptoms are associated with availability to train and compete: a study of 6812 exercising women recruited using the Strava exercise app","volume":"55","author":"Bruinvels","year":"2021","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1457","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-022-01691-2","article-title":"Menstrual cycle: the importance of both the phases and the transitions between phases on training and performance","volume":"52","author":"Bruinvels","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9591","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18189591","article-title":"A pilot study on the impact of menstrual cycle phase on elite australian football athletes","volume":"18","author":"Carmichael","year":"","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18041667","article-title":"The impact of menstrual cycle phase on athletes' performance: a narrative review","volume":"18","author":"Carmichael","year":"","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"544","DOI":"10.1177\/1747954121989237","article-title":"What male coaches want to know about the menstrual cycle in women's team sports: performance, health, and communication","volume":"16","author":"Clarke","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Sci. Coach."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"943857","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.943857","article-title":"Training in women soccer players: a systematic review on training load monitoring","volume":"13","author":"Costa","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"240","DOI":"10.1080\/13625187.2021.1879780","article-title":"Menstrual pattern and contraceptive choices of Portuguese athletes","volume":"26","author":"Coutinho","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur. J. Contracept. Reprod. Health Care"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1678","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0000000000002961","article-title":"Muscle performance during the menstrual cycle correlates with psychological well-being, but not fluctuations in sex hormones","volume":"54","author":"Dam","year":"2022","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2610","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0000000000002073","article-title":"Methodological recommendations for menstrual cycle research in sports and exercise","volume":"51","author":"de Jonge","year":"2019","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbmt.2023.07.002","article-title":"Efficacy of manual therapy and pelvic floor exercises for pain reduction in primary dysmenorrhea: a prospective observational study","volume":"36","author":"Deodato","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Bodyw. Mov. Ther."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"954760","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2022.954760","article-title":"Perceived impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on physical exercise and performance in 1,086 athletes from 57 sports","volume":"13","author":"Ekenros","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Physiol."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1560","DOI":"10.1177\/17479541231216403","article-title":"The perceived influence of menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on training and performance: comparison between football, handball, and orienteering","volume":"19","author":"Ekenros","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Sci. Coaching"},{"key":"B16","first-page":"57","article-title":"Menstrual cycle and sporting performance perceptions of elite volleyball players","volume":"9","author":"Ergin","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Women's Health"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/jmir.6.3.e34","article-title":"Improving the quality of web surveys: the checklist for reporting results of internet e-surveys (CHERRIES)","author":"Eysenbach","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Med. Internet Res."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1108","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2019-101486","article-title":"How the menstrual cycle and menstruation affect sporting performance: experiences and perceptions of elite female rugby players","volume":"54","author":"Findlay","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1123\/wspaj.2023-0102","article-title":"Self-reported performance and hormonal-cycle-related symptoms in competitive female athletes","author":"Ihalainen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Women Sports Phys. Act. J."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"633","DOI":"10.1080\/24733938.2022.2145349","article-title":"Normalising the conversation: a qualitative analysis of player and stakeholder perceptions of menstrual health support within elite female soccer","volume":"6","author":"McHaffie","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. Med. Football"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1813","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-020-01319-3","article-title":"The effects of menstrual cycle phase on exercise performance in eumenorrheic women: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"50","author":"McNulty","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. Sports Med"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"741","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scispo.2022.11.007","article-title":"The menstrual cycle affects the perception of fatigue in futsal athletes","volume":"38","author":"Morales","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci. Sports"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1950","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2022.2122328","article-title":"The impact and experienced barriers menstruation present to football participation in amateur female footballers","volume":"40","author":"Pinel","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci."},{"key":"B24","unstructured":"O Futebol Feminino em Portugal\n          \n          2024"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"616","DOI":"10.1080\/24733938.2021.2020330","article-title":"Elite female football players' perception of the impact of their menstrual cycle stages on their football performance","volume":"6","author":"Read","year":"2022","journal-title":"A semi-structured interview-based study. Sci. Med. Football"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1408711","DOI":"10.3389\/fspor.2024.1408711","article-title":"Menstrual cycle tracking in professional volleyball athletes","volume":"6","author":"Roffler","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front. Sports Act. Living."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1570","DOI":"10.1177\/17479541241228986","article-title":"Menstrual cycle characteristics, hormonal contraceptive use and perceptions of related effects in resistance-trained athletes","volume":"19","author":"SantaBarbara","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Sci. Coaching"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1324","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2019-0616","article-title":"Changes in self-reported physical fitness, performance, and side effects across the phases of the menstrual cycle among competitive endurance athletes","volume":"15","author":"Solli","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1963","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-023-01871-8","article-title":"The prevalence of menstrual cycle disorders and menstrual cycle-related symptoms in female athletes: a systematic literature review","volume":"53","author":"Taim","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1538","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2024.2400810","article-title":"Perceptions of menstrual cycle tracking among elite rugby players","volume":"42","author":"Verrier","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1623","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.0040296","article-title":"The strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies","volume":"4","author":"Von Elm","year":"2007","journal-title":"PLoS Med."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"11932","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph191911932","article-title":"Offered support and knowledge about the menstrual cycle in the athletic community: a cross-sectional study of 1086 female athletes","volume":"19","author":"von Rosen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1576752\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,20]],"date-time":"2025-03-20T08:19:26Z","timestamp":1742458766000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1576752\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,20]]},"references-count":32,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1576752"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1576752","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,20]]},"article-number":"1576752"}}