In a recently published Norwegian study, which is based on responses from 140 elite athletes, 47 percent say they experience a worse physical shape during the period.
Whether the menstruation can lead to an increased risk of injury is difficult to say even if research is ongoing in the area.
- Some studies have shown increased risk of injury before menstruation and others in connection with ovulation, says Professor Angelica Lindén Hirschberg.
- The different results are because it is very difficult to study the men's cycle, it varies between different individuals but also for the same individual. It is not enough to ask questions, you have to take blood tests and do tests to determine this. Research is ongoing, but more is needed.
"The feeling has persecuted me for many years"However, SVT's expert Pernilla Wiberg, who won two Olympic golds and four World Cup golds in alpine skiing during her career, is convinced that the men affected her in connection with a serious injury she sustained as an 18-year-old. She crashed during a grand slalom competition in the United States and operated there.
- I get a little behind the skis and immediately feel that the whole knee breaks. The feeling that the knee had weakened this fateful day in March 1989 has haunted me for many, many years, says Wiberg.
She never talked to her coach about how the crowd affected her.
- But it has always been in the back of my head that it must have had an impact that I almost tore my entire knee.
The Stars of Men: "It was emotionally charged and tabooed"
The browser is not supported
SVT does not support playback in your browser. We therefore recommend that you switch to another browser.
Learn more about browser support
Javascript is turned off
Javascript must be turned on to play video
Learn more about browser support