{
    "abstract": "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.\nAn 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.\nThe 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 (\nThese findings emphasize the need for better communication, education, and structural support to reduce menstruation-related barriers.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilh\u00e3, Portugal.",
            "firstname": "Cristiana",
            "initials": "C",
            "lastname": "Santos"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Institute of Biomedicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.",
            "firstname": "M\u00e1rio",
            "initials": "M",
            "lastname": "Lopes"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Portugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, Lisboa, Portugal.\nCIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.",
            "firstname": "Jo\u00e3o",
            "initials": "J",
            "lastname": "Brito"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "UEFA Medical, UEFA, Nyon, Switzerland.\nFaculty of Sport, Applied Health and Performance Science, St. Mary's University, London, United Kingdom.",
            "firstname": "Katrine Okholm",
            "initials": "KO",
            "lastname": "Kryger"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Faculty of Sport, Applied Health and Performance Science, St. Mary's University, London, United Kingdom.",
            "firstname": "Carolina",
            "initials": "C",
            "lastname": "Wilke"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilh\u00e3, Portugal.\nPortugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, Lisboa, Portugal.\nResearch Center in Sports, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, UBI, Covilh\u00e3, Portugal.",
            "firstname": "Bruno",
            "initials": "B",
            "lastname": "Travassos"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": null,
    "copyrights": "Copyright \u00a9 2025 Santos, Lopes, Brito, Kryger, Wilke and Travassos.",
    "doi": "10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1576752\n10.1177/1747954120916073\n10.1191/1478088706qp063oa\n10.1111/sms.13818\n10.1136/bjsports-2020-102792\n10.1007/s40279-022-01691-2\n10.3390/ijerph18189591\n10.3390/ijerph18041667\n10.1177/1747954121989237\n10.3389/fpsyg.2022.943857\n10.1080/13625187.2021.1879780\n10.1249/MSS.0000000000002961\n10.1249/MSS.0000000000002073\n10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.07.002\n10.3389/fphys.2022.954760\n10.1177/17479541231216403\n10.2196/jmir.6.3.e34\n10.1136/bjsports-2019-101486\n10.1123/wspaj.2023-0102\n10.1080/24733938.2022.2145349\n10.1007/s40279-020-01319-3\n10.1016/j.scispo.2022.11.007\n10.1080/02640414.2022.2122328\n10.1080/24733938.2021.2020330\n10.3389/fspor.2024.1408711\n10.1177/17479541241228986\n10.1123/ijspp.2019-0616\n10.1007/s40279-023-01871-8\n10.1080/02640414.2024.2400810\n10.1371/journal.pmed.0040296\n10.3390/ijerph191911932",
    "journal": "Frontiers in psychology",
    "keywords": [
        "competitive behavior",
        "exercise",
        "physical fitness",
        "soccer",
        "women"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2025-04-04",
    "pubmed_id": "40181889\n0\n32881097\n33199360\n35486372\n34574516\n33572406\n35967662\n33615943\n36106832\n31246715\n37949558\n36111164\n15471760\n32349965\n39802676\n36344447\n32661839\n36099429\n36540911\n39005625\n32957079\n37389782\n39270033\n17941714\n36231231",
    "results": "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 (",
    "title": "Impact of the menstrual cycle and barriers to football and futsal performance in Portuguese players: a survey-based cross-sectional study.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788504641ad0>"
}