"I often get my period during the game. When I use napkins, I get stuffy and hard to move, and I'm worried about what to do if I leak into the leotard. I can't concentrate 100% on the competition during my period."
2 Aiko Sugihara, a gymnast who participated in the Olympic Games in a row, confided in an interview that she was worried about her period.
What are the real worries of female athletes that have not been talked about so far?
(Sports News Department Reporter Yuri Numata)
There is also a risk of injury that makes it impossible to concentrate 100% on the competition
Menstruation that greatly affects the condition of female athletes.
Aiko Sugihara (22), a gymnast, responded to the interview so that she could know the actual situation of her worries.
(Aiko Sugihara)
"There is a characteristic of the competition that opens the legs 180 degrees, but sometimes I am wondering if the napkin is sticking out of the leotard. What to do if it leaks to the leotard, sweat stuffiness It's uncomfortable, and if you care about that, you can't concentrate 100% on the competition. "
Furthermore, if your condition gets worse during your period or if you feel more uncomfortable, your concentration will drop and you may get injured.
(Aiko Sugihara)
"I often feel sick before and during my period, so it's dangerous to force myself to practice at that time. While I was practicing the vault, I was almost injured when I landed. If you can't do it, you'll get injured and I don't think you can practice well. "
It was irregular menstruation and "premenstrual syndrome = PMS" that bothered Sugihara.
PMS is a mental and physical symptom that lasts for 3 to 10 days before menstruation, and the main symptoms are irritability and depression, as well as tension and pain in the lower abdomen and breasts.
Sugihara tried taking a low-dose pill to improve his symptoms, but he didn't take it because it didn't fit his body and it took time to get used to it.
(Aiko Sugihara)
"I had anemia about once every two weeks, so I went to gynecology and tried a low-dose pill, but I felt tired and couldn't practice well. I don't think it suits me. "
More than half are "in trouble"
In a questionnaire survey of 160 students from the sports club of Mukogawa Women's University in Hyogo Prefecture, which is a sports powerhouse to which Sugihara belongs, more than half of the questions asked, "Have you had any problems with your period?" I'm in trouble. "
Of these, the most common was "severe menstrual pain."
Next was "large amount".
In addition, when asked to answer "what they use during menstruation" with multiple answers, "napkins" were the majority at 99%, followed by "tampons" at 25%.
Subsequent "low-dose pills" accounted for only 3%.
When asked why they weren't using low-dose pills, they said, "I'm scared," "Does it affect my physical condition?" Are lined up.
Third option Water-absorbing shorts
Riko Izumitani, a track and field heptathlon, started to move to solve the problems of female athletes.
Izumitani was also one of the athletes who had been worried about her period for many years.
(Riko Izumitani)
"Due to the characteristics of the competition of running, flying and throwing, the napkins will inevitably shift. Also, during the main practice and running set, I can't easily go to the restroom, which makes me feel uncomfortable. However,
I was stressed that I had to play. ”
Therefore, I was involved in the development of“ water-absorbing shorts ”for athletes based on my own experience and the voices of athletes.
We aimed to eliminate the need for menstrual pads just by wearing them, so that you can concentrate on playing in games and training.
The shorts use medical super-absorbent fiber and absorb up to 20 ml of water, which is equivalent to 4 napkins.
In addition to making it difficult to prevent leaks, it is said that by using a highly antibacterial fabric, the odor is less likely to be noticed even if you stay all day long.
Also, I devised so that the line does not echo on the uniform.
Know your period
Izumitani visits various universities and professional teams to get to know these water-absorbing shorts.
Therefore, it is important to have people think about their period.
On this day, I visited the handball club and volleyball club of the university and first conducted a water absorption experiment on shorts.
He wants you to pour 20 ml of water, which is about half of the average daily blood volume, into your shorts and use it as an opportunity to visually grasp your menstrual blood volume.
This was an opportunity to talk about physiology naturally, and in some cases, a female athlete who first noticed her symptoms went to a medical institution.
(Female coach of the volleyball club)
"Since there are individual differences and it is a delicate issue, it is difficult for women to touch each other, but I think it is very good that there are more options to choose the one that suits you."
An environment that makes it easy for male leaders to talk
In addition, we invite male leaders to participate in the discussion.
The aim is to create an environment where it is easy to talk about menstrual problems to male instructors, triggered by water-absorbing shorts.
(Director Kazukuni Ohno, Gymnastics Department, Mukogawa Women's University)
"I think it is necessary for male coaches to think about the body of a woman together. I have the impression that it is very important to raise a problem."
(Riko Izumitani)
"I'm sure that I was a female athlete when talking about menstruation, but I'd like to say it, but I can't say it because I don't have any chance. It's not a bridge as a communication tool, but that kind of thing is exactly water absorption shorts. I think that is the case, so I would like to continue doing such activities. "