Researchers found a female athlete's 'reaction time', 'accuracy' and 'attention to detail' are heightened when she is menstruating, challenging the prevailing understanding of how sports women perform during their period. In many parts of the world, menstruation is considered to be a handicap and, therefore, stigmatised. In some cultures -- including those within the Indian subcontinent -- menstruating women are not allowed to do certain daily activities like entering the kitchen, for example.
And, in extreme cases, they are also made to isolate. For some people, the idea of women leading normal lives and performing regular tasks during periods is unfathomable. These biases have seeped into many fields, including sports, where menstruating athletes are often excluded.
But, findings from a recent study may change this perception. According to a Guardian report, research suggests women on periods are mentally sharper, may make 'fewer mistakes' and have 'better mental agility', despite not feeling their best physically. The research was purportedly conducted by the UCL Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH), and published in the journal ' Neuropsychologia '.
According to the researchers, a female athlete's 'reaction time', 'accuracy' and 'attention to detail' are heightened when she is menstruating. It directly challenges the prevailing understanding of how sports women perform during their period . How The Study Was Conducted Research involved analysing data from as man.
